Hi everyone! This November I will be traveling to Zambia as a volunteer for the Limb Kind Foundation, an organization that supports children living with congenital and acquired limb loss and limb differences in the United States and abroad. As many of you know, I was born with a congenital limb difference that left me battling chronic pain, frequent infections, and a limb length discrepancy for most of my life. As a result, I was on crutches for close to 20 years, and, by college, had underwent over 25 surgeries that unsuccessfully attempted to correct this condition. It wasn't until medical school that I realized that in order to effectively treat my future patients, I first had to take care of my own health, which required making one of the most difficult decisions I've ever had to make. In May of 2021, I met with my orthopedic surgeon to schedule a date to have my right leg amputated below the knee. This decision radically transformed my life in ways that I could never have imagined, eliminated my chronic pain, and gave me the freedom to participate in activities that I once thought were impossible.
It was this experience that led me to volunteer with the Limb Kind Foundation, an organization that is incredibly meaningful to me. I became the mentor that I never had, supporting and uplifting children with limb loss and limb differences while showing them what is possible.
Please consider supporting my trip to Zambia this November so that I can help build prostheses for children with limb loss who do not have access to a prosthetist or the financial resources to purchase a prosthesis. As I learned myself, something as simple as a titanium leg can not only give someone the gift of mobility, but can also be transformative, liberating and empowering. Any donation of any size would be incredibly helpful. If you'd like more information about this wonderful organization or the work that I'll be doing, I'd be more than happy to talk more about it! As a small token of appreciation, all donors will receive a personalized, hand-written card by me, as well as several photos of me in Zambia!
Thank you for Being Kind, Limb Kind!
With Love and Appreciation,
Hayden
