Blood clot forces Paralympic athlete Amy Purdy to risk losing either her kidney or her leg
Amy Purdy was 19 when she contracted meningococcal meningitis, leading to septic shock and kidney failure and causing her to have both legs amputated below the knee. She also lost her spleen and kidneys, but received a kidney transplant from her father when she was 21.
Purdy, who uses prosthetic legs, has since established herself as a snowboarder — winning silver and bronze medals at the Paralympics — as well as a motivational speaker and former Dancing With the Stars finalist. But the 39-year-old has announced a new medical setback, and she’s asking fans to pray.
In a Facebook post shared last Sunday, Purdy revealed that the pressure of her prosthetics has caused “a massive blood clot from my hip to the bottom of my leg,” resulting in cramping so painful it sent her to the hospital.
What’s more, the procedures to fix the clot involve a contrast dye that could compromise her kidney, which Purdy called “the biggest gift of my life and health.”
“There’s the risk that to try to save my leg, we are risking my kidney,” she explained.
“I have been hit down multiple times in my life but this time by far has been the hardest,” she shared.
According to Purdy’s Instagram post on Tuesday, she proceeded with surgery on her leg, which “went well.”
“We are also checking my kidney this morning to make sure it handled everything well,” she wrote. “They had to use contrast [dye] but promised me it was a small amount so fingers crossed that my kidney powered through like the powerhouse it is. My dad reassured me that before he gave it to me he put it through much worse.
“As you can imagine, all of this has once again shifted my perspective. Our bodies are so strong yet so delicate at the same time. Being an athlete and having prosthetic legs, I have conditioned myself to power through so much. That is what has led me to where I’m at in my life but that’s the paradox because it also led me here. Although I had zero symptoms until a few days before, I realize the pressure I’ve been putting on this leg for quite some time. Just a reminder to listen to those little whispers and put our health and self-care first! “
A post shared by Amy Purdy (@amypurdygurl) on Feb 26, 2019 at 7:22am PST
Purdy spoke to Yahoo Lifestyle in December (see video below) about becoming a double amputee as a teen.
“I remember being wheeled into the operating room where they were going to amputate my legs,” she said. “I was so scared. I had no idea what my life was going to be like. I was a snowboarder. This world is made for legs. At least that’s how I felt.”
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