From Braces to Prosthetics: A Journey of Strength, Science, and Soccer
I was born with spina bifida and scoliosis, so from the very beginning, mobility looked different for me. I wore a KAFO (knee-ankle-foot orthotic) on my left leg to support my movement. As I grew, I developed drop foot on my right side, which meant adding an AFO (ankle-foot orthotic)—something I still use today.
Mobility has always been complex, but so has my determination.
I’m a high school science teacher. I teach physics and physical science, and I hold a master’s degree in Science Education. My love of learning has always gone hand-in-hand with my resilience. In the classroom, I challenge my students to think critically and push past limits. Outside the classroom, I live that lesson every single day.
Growing up, I found strength through sport. I played lacrosse as a goalkeeper in college—yes, in my braces. I wasn’t quick and agile with my feet, but I was with my handed eye coordination. I worked twice as hard as everyone else to keep up and remained focused to achieve my goals. My orthotics didn’t hold me back; they taught me how to move creatively, push through pain, and adapt with grit. Every game, every practice, I learned how to fight for what I loved.
In my 30s, a life-threatening bone and blood infection changed everything. I underwent a below-the-knee amputation. To some, the decision would be terrifying but to me, it offered something I hadn’t felt in a long time: freedom. My prosthetic leg gave me more mobility, and more importantly, it gave me a new kind of strength—one rooted in perseverance and purpose.
During my recovery, my physical therapist asked if I wanted to try something new. I replied I would try everything once. From that moment, my life changed forever. I found something that felt like home: Amputee Soccer. Through many camps and training, I joined the U.S. Women’s Amputee National Team as a forward and have had the honor of participating in multiple inaugural events, such as going to Poland in 2023 and winning silver in the Inaugural Women’s Amputee Soccer World Cup in Barranquilla, Columbia, November 2024.
It’s a sport that doesn’t just challenge the body; it fuels the soul. I found a space where ability is redefined, where the energy of the pitch is electric, and where the community is filled with warriors like me.
But soccer is just one part of the story. I’m passionate about staying active and exploring the outdoors. I rock climb. I kayak. I canoe. I ride a bike. I hike whenever I can, and one of my favorite things to do is walk with my service dog, Oliver, who’s not just loyal, but my everyday adventure buddy. Being outside, whether on a trail, in the water, or on the field, is where I feel most alive.
None of this would be possible without the people and values that ground me. I am incredibly blessed to have a strong, loving family, a solid support system, and a deep spiritual foundation that anchors me through every twist in this journey. My faith has carried me through surgeries, setbacks, and transitions, reminding me that I am never walking alone.
The encouragement I’ve received from family, friends, teammates, mentors, and even my students has lifted me in ways words can’t always explain. Having people who believe in me, pray for me, and show up for me has made all the difference. I’m lucky. I have it all.
Now, I’m preparing for another major chapter: transitioning from a below-the-knee to an above-the-knee amputation. It’s emotional and uncertain. I’ve never had a functioning knee joint before, so in many ways, this is new terrain: physically, emotionally, and mentally.
But here’s what I know:
I don’t stop when things get hard. I grow.
Every brace, every surgery (and I’ve had over 30), every challenge has shaped who I am, and who I continue to become.
I don’t walk this path alone. My support system and Oliver are by my side every step of the way helping me keep my balance in more ways than one. Whether I’m teaching, training, hiking a new trail, or climbing my next route, his tail wags remind me to keep going.
This journey is not about loss. It’s about evolution.
I’m not just adapting; I’m transforming.
This is not the end.
It’s just the beginning.
To anyone navigating their own mobility journey:
You are not broken. You are becoming.
Keep going. You are stronger than you know.
