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Three-Legged Dog Gave Courage To A Boy To Amputate His Defective Leg

Published

2 years ago

October 13, 2022

Travis Carpenter was faced with a decision to have his leg amputated after it showed no bone growth when a tumor enveloped it.
How his canine companion lives her life fully with just three legs inspired him to make the decision to amputate the defective leg.
Making the decision was tough but Travis is now moving on and trying new things.

Travis Carpenter of Salt Lake City, Utah has a rare genetic condition called neurofibromatosis. According to his mom Kelly, “It’s a genetic condition affecting one in 3,000, and it causes tumors to form on nerves anywhere throughout the body.”

In his latest MRI, Dr. Kevin Jones, an orthopedic surgeon with Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah said, “There was literally almost no muscle in his thigh; his whole thigh was comprised of this, this tumor. He just had such weakness in the bone that it just kind of gave up.”

Travis has already had his leg broken three times. There is no bone growth on it and amputating the leg is being considered. The decision lies with Travis.

While considering the decision, Travis’ family got him a companion named Lady. She is an Entlebucher Mountain Dog that loves giving high fives just like Travis. In Lady’s case, it is just a high four as she has a deformed front leg that did not develop fully while she was still in the womb.

Travis said, “When I saw her get around really well, I’m like, maybe I should do that so I can get around better than I am right now.”

Lady has served as an inspiration to Travis with the way she lives her life. And it helped Travis on deciding to have his left leg amputated.

Travis said, “It was a very difficult decision because you can never get your leg back if you get rid of it. And I just wanted to get rid of it so I can go out and have fun, go push harder than I ever have before.”

But Travis believes that the decision has allowed him to push his limits and try on new things. Having Lady around boosted his courage to make the decision and live through it.