At age 19, Amy Purdy faced a profound life-altering challenge when she contracted a form of bacterial meningitis. This devastating illness resulted in the amputation of both her legs beneath the knee, the loss of both kidneys, and the removal of her spleen. Incredibly, doctors gave her less than a 2% chance of survival. However, Amy defied these odds in a remarkable way. Her story is a testament to her incredible resilience and determination.
Despite the immense hurdles she had to overcome, Amy’s spirit remained unbroken. Her journey took an inspiring turn as she became one of the top-ranked adaptive snowboarders in the world. Her achievements include winning medals in both the 2014 and 2018 Paralympic Games, showcasing her exceptional skill and determination on the slopes.
Amy’s extraordinary story also caught the attention of a wider audience. She appeared on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” where she displayed her tenacity and grace, ultimately earning second place in her season. Her remarkable experiences are chronicled in her best-selling autobiography, “On My Own Two Feet.”
Beyond her personal accomplishments, Amy Purdy is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others with disabilities. She co-founded Adaptive Action Sports, a nonprofit organization committed to enabling individuals with permanent disabilities to engage in action sports. Through her advocacy, she’s shown that physical challenges can be transformed into opportunities for empowerment and growth.
Through her advocacy, athletic achievements, and unwavering determination, Amy Purdy continues to redefine what is possible and inspire people around the world.
We were absolutely blown away by the incredible Amy Purdy at #InformaticaWorld! As a three-time Paralympic medalist, author, and co-founder of Adaptive Action Sports, Amy’s message of resilience and overcoming adversity truly resonated with everyone in attendance.
Thank you so much, Amy, for joining us and sharing your story!
“You were unquestionably the best part of our 4-day conference.”
“Amy’s presentation was one of the major highlights of our event. She captured everyone in the audience with her amazing story. Our group was so inspired that she had thousands of people on their feet for a standing ovation not only at the end of her presentation, but IN THE MIDDLE of it! She was absolutely lovely and easy-going to work with. We loved how she connected with our audience and we have received lots of excellent feedback about her session.”
“Your life story really underscored the necessity and benefit of creativitv and innovation in a way few others could express. You stole the show.”
“I finally have the ratings from our conference compiled and wanted to pass along Amy’s ratings and the comments on her presentation. Can you please pass these along to her? These are some of the best ratings we have ever had for a speaker.
Amy was certainly a hit with our members. She couldn’t have been nicer to everyone who met her either. Whether it be walking to the session or at the book signing, she took time to chat with all.”
Our speakers change the game, bringing motivation and excellence through their life experiences.
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