"Robot Leg"

"As I was grabbing a coffee this morning before the gym, this little boy walked up to me, looked down at my leg with a big smile on his face, pointed and screamed without taking his eyes off my leg 'MOM.. Look! She has a robot leg.'

Instead of rushing him away like an embarrassed parent would do, she turned and said, 'she does and it's very cool. Looks fast.'

To all the parents out there that have experienced their child/children pointing out the obvious, just know that most of us amputees (I can't speak for everyone) love to see the excitement and curiosity that stems from innocence.

Telling your kid to be quiet or not allowing them to understand why we are different but yet still capable of doing everything they do, is very unfortunate.

I know that I always appreciate having that conversation like I did today with that boy and his mom, rather than feeling the eyes burning a hole in the back of my leg."

----

On June 27th, 2011, Michelle Salt was out for an evening ride with some friends when she lost control of her motorcycle going 121 kms an hour. Her body and the bike dragged across the pavement until she hit a guardrail, flew several feet in the air, and hit the guardrail again.

Upon impact, she broke 13 bones including her hips, pelvis, vertebras, clavicles and both femurs, one in two places which severed her femoral artery ... Michelle was put on life support and her chances of survival were slim to none. Her fate was left in the hands of doctors, blood donors and God. Due to a severed femoral artery and deep laceration, she had lost all blood flow in her right leg. Doctors worked tirelessy that night and following day to repair what they could but sadly, her right leg could not be saved and on June 29th, her new life begun as an amputee and a Survivor.

She is now a Paralympic Snowboarder, Motivational Speaker & Realtor.

Photos and story provided by Michelle Salt's Facebook page.