Perseverance
One who has overcome personal adversity

Rachel Blackledge

Nominated by Marlo Kirkpatrick

Marlo says, “For Rachel, May 22, 2005, began as a sunny day full of promise. A senior at Madison Central, she was looking forward to graduating with honors before studying graphic design at Samford University.

“That afternoon, everything changed in an instant. She and three friends were involved in a water-skiing accident, and Rachel and her friend Lanie were thrown overboard. Rachel’s right leg was severed at the knee and Lanie was killed.

“Rachel spent three weeks in the hospital, followed by months filled with phantom pains, tough physical therapy, a series of awkward prosthetics, and grieving for her friend. As she healed, she began to see all she’d been through not just as a tragedy, but an opportunity. ‘After awhile,’ she said, ‘you begin looking for the doors God is opening.’

“As she continued physical therapy, Rachel discovered a new calling. In 2006, she enrolled at Mississippi College, and earned a degree in Kinesiology. This May, she will begin physical therapy school at UMC, where she spent so many hours as a patient.”

“I’ve realized my calling is to work with other amputees, and even though this has been hard academically, I’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen,’ Rachel says. ‘I can’t wait for the day when I’m in practice and a young girl comes in with an amputation. And I roll up my pant leg and tell her my story and say, “I know you can do this, because I’ve been where you are. And if I can do it, you can do it.

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