I am constantly asked by people, "Can you run?"

My answer always sounds a little bit disappointing. 

I was born with one leg.  Well, not really one leg.  That's my really short answer, reserved for little kids in grocery store check out lines.  I was born with bilateral femoral focal deficiency, usually referred to as PFFD.  My right leg had no hip socket, a very short femur, and from what I understand an extremely malformed tibia/fibula and a foot missing a few toes.  My left leg wasn't so bad, just no real hip socket, a short femur and a funky (yet functioning) knee joint. 

At about 12 months I had the small lower part of my right leg amputated (thank you, Shriners).  I was walking (they tell me) before I was 2 years old.  Today, I use an above knee prosthesis on the right side (thank you, Westcoast) and get around really well, despite dislocated hips.

The only running I do today is after my crawling baby when she heads into the kitchen, but even then my 5 year old steps up to catch her for me.  When I do run, it's a little hop-skip usually and it's definitely NOT the type of graceful running you may see in the paralympics.  No, it turns out I didn't overcome limb deficiency to go on to become a world famous paralympic runner.  You won't see me in a Nike shoe ad. 

I will admit something here and now...  I use the electric carts at Super Target.  I also take full advantage of disabled parking (we call it VIP parking in my family).  I don't wait in long lines at Disney.  Surprised? 

I'm not a runner, but I got through two pregnancies and worked up until delivery day for both.  In college, I could walk down the stairs on my hands. 

I've come to accept that I'm not an athlete in the traditional sense.  Doing sit ups in the morning and playing soccer in the backyard with the kids is as close as I'm going to get... and that's just fine by me.