Leia turns her prosthetic leg into a showstopping tool.
Instead, it lands with a striking clang as she catches it, not in her hands, but in her prosthetic leg. The move is unexpected, unforgettable and entirely her own.
Leia is redefining what’s possible, turning a moment once considered a limitation into a signature performance that’s capturing attention and inspiring others.
Leia was born with fibular hemimelia and had her right leg amputated when she was 11 months old at Shriners Children’s St. Louis. Just after she turned 1, Leia was fitted with her first prosthetic and has been returning to the nonprofit healthcare system every year since for new legs. Depending on the year, Leia visits St. Louis multiple times for fittings and new devices.
“When I was in seventh grade, I broke five of my prosthetics because I was using them so hard across track, cross-country, color guard and all sorts of sports,” Leia said.
Shriners Children’s always made sure I was comfortable in trying a new sport, and they would aid me in whatever I needed. The running leg they made me has done wonders for my mobility.
The high school junior turned an annoyance with her prosthetic into her most famous move. Sometimes, her flag would get caught in her prosthetic as she lifted it up during practice and performances, turning into a nuisance. Then, a teammate hinted at the idea of making that inconvenience into something special, and from there, the move was born.
A member of another color guard team even came up to Leia at a recent competition and was so excited to meet her, saying she saw Leia catch her flag in her leg, and she had been looking for her ever since. It’s not the only time Leia has inspired others.
“I’ll never forget a cross-country meet where I was running up one of the final hills, and I just wanted to stop,” Leia said. “I was struggling, and it was hard, but then I saw a military veteran on the side of the course who also had a prosthetic leg. He saw me and his eyes instantly lit up, and he started cheering me on. It was at that moment I realized I really do make a difference for other people, both with and without prosthetics.”
Leia has had the same prosthetist her entire life at Shriners Children’s St. Louis: Darren Rottmann, BOCP, CPOA, who also happens to be an amputee. For Leia, there’s a sense of comfort and understanding between her and Rottmann. He almost always knows what Leia is asking for when she asks for a certain adjustment, like a telepathic connection.
Leia plans to keep using her prosthetics to their max, excelling at color guard and continuing to make fans go crazy. After high school, Leia plans to major in broadcasting before going on to be a news anchor, while also pursuing work in ministry.
Leia maneuvers around orange cones while running in a cross-country meet.
Leia sits underneath the sign outside Shriners Children's St. Louis after her appointment.
