Body
April 3, 2023, is a special date for Jared. It’s the day he was able to do something he hasn’t done in two years — run.
Jared was 19 years old when he lost his left leg to a rare type of bone cancer. He came to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab for outpatient physical therapy and to get fitted for a prosthetic walking leg. Typically, it can take up to a year to learn how to walk with a prosthesis, but Jared did it in three months.
Jared’s next goal was to get a special prosthesis created specifically for athletic use, so he could get back to what he loves most — sports and running. Our Prosthetics and Orthotics Lab worked with Jared’s physical therapists to ensure he was physically ready to run. After two years spent developing balance, coordination, agility and strength, Jared received his custom running leg. He decorated it with decals in the colors of his high school and college teams.
“I’ve been an athlete all my life. I played tennis, golf, baseball and basketball all through high school. Now I can play them all again.”
