Brand New Amputee

Amputee LifeConfidence & MindsetAdaptive Living

Sep 3

I often wonder what it would be like to have become an amputee later in life. To be a brand new amputee, and be completely aware of your situation. I was only 4 1/2 when I had my leg amputated, and the leg I did have didn’t even work properly! I honestly have no idea what it is like to walk on two functional legs. I always tell people my amputation was way harder on my parents than on me.

Shriner’s Hospital St. Louis, Missouri 1996

Grief after Amputation

I would often ask questions like “Why do people look at me funny?” I would get picked on in school, and was treated differently because of it. I was like this special, gifted child. I was applauded for walking, running, and basically functioning. Granted all of these tasks were extremely difficult to a 5 year old who had spent her first 4 years in an orphanage attempting to walk on a very deformed leg.

I went through the “toughest” years as an amputee. I call puberty and middle school the toughest. I do not think I could go back to middle school and survive haha. I applaud anyone who teaches these grades. Puberty is toughest because that’s when you’re the toughest on yourself. You feel extremely insecure about all of the changes your body is going through and to add to it your leg begins to slide from all of these new sweat glands you have. Your body is changing and now your leg is a bit snugger than it had been. WHAT IS HAPPENING!!!

I did however, survive these periods in my life. I took a long time to gain confidence, but I am completely there now. So there in lies the question. Now that I am this confident gal, what would it be like to be amputated now?

I would clearly remember the situation. I would be able to better understand my circumstances. Would I hold on to this sense of confidence? Would I come out from it just as strong as I had as a 5 year old? I don’t believe any situation is ideal, and I wouldn’t trade mine for the world. Mine brought me to America. Mine got me a loving family. Mine made me grow up to be the person I am today.