Modeling and rock climbing, 22-year-old Claire Bridges hasn’t let her amputations stop her from pushing forward for almost two years. She was born with Aortic Valve Stenosis, a type of heart valve disease, and when she caught COVID-19 the complications were life-threatening. At 20 years old Claire had to have both legs amputated and was facing a new reality. Shannon Clo shares her story in a video segment for 10 Tampa Bay.
“Amputees can do whatever you can do and sometimes we can do it better!” she said with a laugh. Displaying incredible resilience, she has made a lot of progress in her recovery and mobility. She also says having a community, her friends, and family has helped her feel grounded. “I would not be as strong as I am today and as strong as I’m going to be without all of them.”
Physical therapy has continued to play a large role in strengthening Claire’s body and she is working towards being able to hike. All this while still attending St. Petersburg College and doing modeling shoots. “Being able to see other people like me do things that I want to do or that I never really even thought I would do just makes me more excited for life,” she said.
She hopes to remind others that they too are a lot stronger than they think. “I think a lot of people forget that,” she stated. Follow Claire’s journey on Instagram (@clurby).