Despite leg amputation, life is pretty normal
After years of health and mobility challenges related to Legg-Perthes disease, Don Cunningham decided to have his right leg amputated in 2014.
“I was about 12 years old when I started having problems. The doctor said it could have been caused by a fall. The only thing I remember is running across the playground at school. The ground had a little dip, but I didn’t see it and I hit it hard. It started hurting a lot after that. Eventually, just out of high school, it got so bad that when I was working at a grocery store I could hardly walk anymore.”
He was diagnosed with Legg-Perthes disease, a hip disorder that led to 18 surgeries along with health and mobility challenges over many years. Finally, in October 2014, he decided to have the leg amputated.
“There are times when it’s rough. I look down and think, well, it ain’t coming back. I don’t guess I’ll ever get used to it. But really, there’s hardly anything I can’t do now.
“It’s funny how kids can be so curious. One time I was waiting outside a car wash when this little boy came up and said, ‘What happened to your leg?’ I said, ‘Well, I got sick and they had to take it.’ He said, ‘Where is it?’ I said, ‘It’s gone. I don’t have it anymore.’ So while I was standing there with pants like these on, he turned his head and was trying to look up in them. It just cracked me up.”
— Don Cunningham, 73
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