Since the age of three, Kara Skrubis has practiced ballet. Throughout her youth, she traveled the nation, showcasing her ballet prowess. Alongside her performances, she commenced teaching ballet and started her studies as a dance major at University at Buffalo.
However, her trajectory took an unforeseen twist during her inaugural semester at UB. In October 2019, Skrubis awoke to excruciating pain in her left knee, soon accompanied by a concerning “warm lump.” Despite a visit to a local urgent care facility, the ailment remained undiagnosed. It wasn’t until three months later, under the care of an orthopedic specialist, that a tumor was discovered in her left tibia.
At 18 years old, Skrubis received the diagnosis of osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer predominantly affecting teenagers and young adults. While receiving treatment, Skrubis was compelled to take a time off from her studies for a year. Her journey started with chemotherapy in February 2020, followed by the amputation of her left leg in April 2020 to eradicate the cancer. Subsequently, she underwent immunotherapy until June 2021, concluding her treatment regimen with chemotherapy in September 2021.
During her stay in the hospital, Skrubis says her mother, Lisa, 54, found and connected with MIB Agents, a pediatric osteosarcoma nonprofit that provides resources, information and support to patients and families.
Skrubis still practices ballet, but she changed her majors from dance and psychology to psychology and health and human sciences so she can work with other youth diagnosed with cancer.
Links:
MIB Agents: https://www.mibagents.org
People Magazine Article: https://people.com/health/kara-skrubis-talks-continuing-ballet-following-bone-cancer-leg-amputation-i-never-gave-up/
#amputee #amputeelife #amputeestrong #prosthetics #prostheticleg #amputeegirl #amplife #amputation #limbloss #amputees #adaptiveathlete #amputeefitness #prosthetic #motivation #prosthesis #adaptive #oneleg #amputados #amputeewoman #inspiration #osteosarcoma #cancer #sarcoma #bonecancer #cancersucks #childhoodcancer #cancersurvivor #osteosarcomaawareness #childhoodcancerawareness #cancerawareness #cancerfighter #pediatriccancer #bonetumor
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Watch on YouTube
Listen on Spotify
What happens when you begin losing your vision as a child—and refuse to let it define your future? In this inspiring episode of We're Not Stumped, host Mike Bolland welcomes Kathy Nimmer, recipient of the prestigious Helen Keller Achievement Award, author, speaker, and retired high school English teacher who spent nearly three decades educating and inspiring students while living with blindness. Kathy shares her remarkable journey of progressive vision loss caused by a rare retinal degenerative disease, the challenges she faced along the way, and the resilience that helped her build a life filled with purpose, achievement, and impact.
Host Mike Bolland welcomes Whitney Lavender — Miss Wheelchair Tennessee 2026, author, advocate, and host of the Wits Grit podcast — for an inspiring conversation about resilience, purpose, and overcoming unimaginable challenges. After a devastating fall led to a diagnosis of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), Whitney faced years of severe pain, countless treatments, and ultimately bilateral leg amputations. Rather than allowing adversity to define her, she rebuilt her life and discovered a new purpose through advocacy, storytelling, and empowering others. Whitney’s story is a powerful reminder that our greatest challenges can sometimes reveal strengths we never knew we had.
Ever since announcing his return to competitive bowling, Mike Bolland has been getting one question after another from friends, bowlers, podcast listeners, and people discovering his story for the first time. In this episode of We’re Not Stumped, Mike answers the top three questions he keeps hearing: 🎳 How did he start bowling? 🎳 Why did he walk away from the sport? 🎳 Why is he coming back now at 61 years old? Mike shares the story behind becoming the first person with limb loss to compete on the PBA Tour, the life experiences that pulled him away from bowling, and how volunteering with Arizona Disabled Sports unexpectedly helped inspire his comeback journey toward the PBA60 World Championship.
Leave A Comment