Aug 7, 2018

Embracing the Cards You're Dealt: Amputation

Briefly About Me

I've had a visible disability my whole life because I was born with fibular hemimelia and my left leg was amputated below the knee when I was two. My disability has lead me to my career as a disability rights attorney, it's the reason I met my husband (who makes legs), and has provided me with a platform to share a message of positivity and strength through competing in triathlons.

My Most Ambitious Challenge As An Amputee

This past June, I embarked on my most ambitious journey yet in tackling the Boulder Ironman, which is a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run - all of which must be done in 17 hours. I had issues with my bike and the temps rose to the upper 90's, but I still managed to finish with just 48 seconds to spare in 16 hours, 59 minutes, and 12 seconds. It was one of the most challenging and rewarding things I've ever done, and it still doesn't feel like it really happened even though I was there the whole time. Even though there are times when being an amputee can be a challenge, I wouldn't trade it for the world because I love my life just as it is with the hand of cards I was dealt.

Comments

My leg was amputated when I was 2 because I had a condition called fibular hemimelia, which means I was missing my fibula bone and my left leg was substantially shorter than my right. I grew up not really knowing any different, and even asked my grandma at some point when she got her first prosthesis because I had it in my head that everyone wore a prosthesis (for the record, my grandma does not wear a prosthesis). I played t-ball & volleyball, rode bikes, climbed trees (much to my dad’s dismay), and did pretty much everything else my friends were doing. I started riding horses when I was about 9 years old, quickly got into 3-day eventing, and eventually rode on my college dressage team. I didn’t ride much after college, but I started competing in triathlons in 2014 and discovered this to be a new passion. I started with sprint distance triathlons and completed my first Half Ironman in June of 2016. I am chasing down the Full Ironman in Boulder in 2018. I’m also a disability rights attorney at a nonprofit called Disability Law Colorado, co-founder and President of LIM359 – an activities-based support group for people with limb loss/different, an ambassador captain for Skirt Sports and their #realwomenmove campaign, and a member of TeamMPI.

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