Losing a limb is a challenge that no one wants to face. It certainly takes time to adjust, including learning new ways to care for oneself and your prosthetic. These empowering stories of amputees surpassing their physical constraints to reach their dreams will help others still adjusting to life after limb loss. These famous amputees have transformed adversity into inspiration.
A Quiet Hero: Alexia Michitti
Being born without a right hand never stopped Alexia Michitti from doing whatever she wanted — until others’ biases got in the way. In middle school, her coach cut her from the basketball team, citing her handicap as the reason.
Rather than give up, Michitti found her way to the Ithaca College women’s soccer team, where she’s a goalkeeper. Only recently, she was introduced to adaptive sports, and now works with the U.S. national amputee team. Her entire life, Michitti had competed along with everybody else, not even knowing about adaptive sports programs. Today, she helps people like herself to engage in sports on a competitive level.
Disaster Turned Into Platform for Johnny Joey Jones
As a young man in his 20s working as a bomb technician for the Marines, Johnny Joey Jones never dreamed his life’s work would be inspiration for amputees. After stepping on a land mine in Afghanistan, he lost both legs above the knees.
His unique perspective and willingness to help others landed him a job with Fox News as a contributor on veteran affairs. As a popular host of “Alive Today” on Fox, he serves as a reminder that vets and amputees not only deserve a voice, but offer an important viewpoint on world affairs.
Surfer Bethany Hamilton Back in the Water
After losing an arm to a shark attack at the age of 13, Bethany Hamilton could have sat back and let self-pity take over her life. Instead, she decided to keep doing the one thing she was always passionate about: surfing.
Now 34, Hamilton is married and a mother of four. She has written a book about her experience and regularly does talks to help other amputees. As a resident of Kauai, Hawaii, Hamilton is often seen out on the waves. Her life is a testament to not letting the loss of a limb stop you from becoming the best version of yourself.
The World’s First Quadruple Amputee Commercial Pilot
Zachary Anglin has literally proven that the sky’s the limit. As a quadruple amputee, he could have let fate confine him to a quiet life at home. Instead, he decided to overcome his situation and became a commercial pilot and flight instructor.
Born in Nigeria and adopted by American parents, Zachary Anglin grew up in Wisconsin. He remembers that he was always fascinated by airplanes, even as a young child. He papered his bedroom with posters of aircraft of all kinds, dreaming of someday flying through the clouds as a pilot.
He was unaware that no person born without hands or feet had ever become a pilot in the history of the world. After growing up, he was turned away from getting his medical certification to become a pilot, without explanation.
But Zach didn’t give up. Instead, he pursued the FAA and challenged them to allow him to take his SODA (statement of demonstrated ability). Though faced with more challenges than others during his flight test, he passed with flying colors, proving that being an amputee doesn’t mean you can’t reach the stars.
Tony Drees Chooses To Motivate and Inspire
As a recipient of the Purple Heart for Bravery, there’s no doubt Tony Drees is a hero. He served his country loyally and valiantly, answering an inward call to enlist in the Army. After some time, Drees was deployed to the Gulf War to fight in Operation Desert Storm. Only nine days in, Drees’ barracks was the target of the deadliest attack in the war. Almost 100 soldiers were wounded, and 28 perished. Drees suffered severe injuries to his right leg, and over the next nine months he underwent 58 surgeries. Although he eventually regained full use of the leg, 24 years later he fell ill due to an infected open wound. Diagnosed with cancer, Drees had to have the leg amputated at the age of 50.
Rather than take it easy, Drees decided to turn tragedy into something great. He took up skiing, and travels the country speaking to audiences about his journey. His charitable work raises money for veteran and adaptive sports nonprofits organizations.
Resilient Mother Proves That Amputation Is Not the End of the Road
You don’t have to be a hero to the public in order to make a difference as an amputee. A Kentucky mother name Lucinda “Cindy” Mullins proves that. A simple kidney stone resulted in the amputation of Cindy’s arms and legs after it led to sepsis. Yet, she continues to do the most important job — being a mother to her children.
With a combination of her faith, the support of her husband and the love of her children, Cindy has kicked butt with her rehabilitation and is learning how to be a mother as an amputee. Says Mullins, “It’s okay to let people take care of you.” It’s clear that her son and other family members are more than happy to offer the love and support that Cindy needs to be the best mother she can be, no matter what the circumstances.
You don’t need to climb mountains or fly jets to inspire others. Like Cindy Mullins and others like her have proven, you just need to be the best you can be in your own life in order to be a hero to those you love. Everyone has challenges in life. Being an amputee means having a challenge that is visible to others. When you can begin to look past your own so-called “disability,” so will others.
At ROSS, we are committed to making your life as an amputee safer. We offer sanitation solutions for prosthetics so that you can be sure you’re doing the best you can to take care of yourself while caring for the ones who depend upon your strength. You are strong. We want to make you stronger. Contact us today.
