LEWISTON, Maine — An Army veteran says losing her leg helped her get back on her feet.
Christy Gardner of Lewiston had her lower left leg amputated in May. She’s been walking for 10 weeks now and says she’s already jogging.
“The surgery was fantastic. I couldn’t have asked it to be better,” said Gardner.
It was a long road for Gardner. She was hurt in 2006 during a noncombat training exercise while serving overseas. She says it caused seizures and numbness in her feet. Gardner could walk, but she had unknowingly hurt herself. She says the phantom pain was even worse.
“I can hardly breathe. I throw up from the pain,” Gardner said during an interview with CBS 13 in March, prior to the surgery.
“My feet actually froze solid twice last winter.”
Last winter is when she made the drastic decision to amputate her leg from the shin down. It took Gardner months to raise the money and find a surgeon who felt, ethically, the amputation would improve Gardner’s quality of life. In May, she had the surgery.
“I’m in less pain. I can walk so much further. I can jump on a trampoline! I’ve been doing that at physical therapy. Some of the things I can do now are unreal,” said Gardner.
She’s playing better than ever for the Women’s National Sled Hockey Team. She’s been a member since 2011 and traveling across the country for games, but also to speak to young athletes and teach them about overcoming obstacles.
“I wore a uniform for the USA once and I lost that privilege through my injuries, but now I’m able to wear the USA and represent around the world. Hopefully make our country proud.”
Plus, Gardner is paying it forward to other veterans with disabilities. Last year, she founded the New England Warriors, a sled hockey (also known as “sledge hockey” in other parts of the world) team for veterans in Maine and New Hampshire.
Next, Gardner wants to train for the javelin and compete in the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. After that, Gardner wants to have her other leg amputated.
“As awkward as it sounds, as soon as I lose a leg, I’ll be more active.”
The Boston Bruins will honor the New England Warriors Thursday night at the T.D. Garden. They are hosting a fundraiser for the team and they will get to attend the game.