Previously published in Rite Up, 2025 – Issue 1
“This is me, this is who I am, and I am not ashamed of it,” says 17-year-old Chloe, of Panhandle, Texas. She lives by this motto. With hopes of competing in the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, she is a rising star in adaptive track and field.
Chloe was born with fibular hemimelia in her left leg. Her fibula, the small bone in her shin, was missing. Before her first birthday, she underwent a Syme’s amputation to remove her foot and ankle joint. Chloe began learning how to walk with a prosthesis.
“We did a lot of research before deciding to amputate her leg,” says Sheryl, Chloe’s mother. “We made a decision Chloe would live with for the rest of her life, not us. Whatever decision we made was never going to be an easy one, but it was whatever would make Chloe’s life easier.”
At age 14, Chloe began receiving multidisciplinary care at Scottish Rite for Children from pediatric orthopedic surgeon Corey S. Gill, M.D., M.A., and Orthotist and Prosthetist Manager Kelsey Thompson, C.P.O., L.P.O. As her care team worked alongside her to address her specific needs, Chloe transitioned from being a multisport athlete to dedicating her talents in adaptive track and field.
She excels in running, throwing and long jumping, earning recognition as one of the 2024 U.S. Paralympics Track & Field High School Athletes of the Year.
On and off the field, Chloe’s care team supports her diverse interests. Scottish Rite prosthetists have created numerous state-of-the-art prostheses for her, including an everyday walking leg and a running blade for sprinting track events, designed to mimic the natural motion of a foot for running or jumping. Recently, the team produced a specialty prosthesis designed for long jumping, supporting her dream to go the distance and in her pursuit of Paralympic success. They also developed an adjustable heel height prosthesis to match the height of whatever shoes she chooses to wear — from cowboy boots to high heels. Chloe plans to major in kinesiology, continue adaptive track and field, and inspire other young athletes.
“Dr. Gill and Kelsey always believed in me,” Chloe says. “It feels amazing to run with kids who look like me. As long as I have my two legs, I’ll keep pushing forward and never let anything hold me back.”
