Sonia's Story - Turning Casualty Into A Cause

I spent several years sharing my journey as a new amputee with thrive readers as I learned how to navigate my new life. My hope was that my story could help others on their journey. From returning home from rehab to returning to work, to the gym, to relationships, and all of the ups and downs along the way, eventually I ran out of ‘returns’ and quietly put my pen down.

But as we all know, life can have a bigger and better plan and a funny way of lining things up for us. I met a fellow female lower-limb amputee with a story so heartwarming that I just had to tell it. She reminded me of why I started writing in the first place. So, here I am again – pen in hand, heart open – “returning” to my passion for writing to share a story that I hope touches your heart like it did mine.

It starts like this. This summer I received a request from ParaSport® Ontario to speak at a wonderful event in Oakville, Ontario, as a ParaSport Brand Ambassador. It was a 5K Run organized to raise funds for prosthetic devices for those in need by Wings for Limbs, a new charity. I felt very aligned with the cause because I’m a grateful recipient of an Ossur running leg through ParaSport Ontario’s Play to Podium Fund. So of course, I immediately accepted.

I hadn’t heard of Wings for Limbs, and I didn’t have much information about it or its founder, but I knew that this is exactly what our community needs… people gathering together for hope, love and support. I headed to the event without any expectations, just an open mind and an open heart.

I arrived early and to my surprise, a huge number of people were already gathered and ready to run for their family, friends and community. They were all there at the request of a wonderful woman named Sonia Montanez, the visionary for Wings for Limbs.

Sonia gave the opening speech. Her energy was overwhelmingly moving and full of emotion. Tears of compassion were abundant on the faces of her supportive audience. We all stood poker still, listening intently.

As Sonia spoke, I couldn’t help but think of how life can so suddenly divide itself into before and after. What was her journey like? What brought her here to this stage? What were her hopes and hurdles? What I found out was beyond inspiring.

Before the motorcycle crash that claimed her left leg below her knee, she was an accomplished accountant in Venezuela – driven, family-oriented, and deeply rooted in her community. She’d spent years building a beautiful life. She married young, raising two children, and advancing in her career. But when her country went into political turmoil, and the economy began to spiral, safety and stability were swiftly slipping away.

With such courage, Sonia and her family made the life-changing decision to leave and start over in Canada. Leaving behind everything familiar – language, culture, friends – she arrived in Canada ready to rebuild from the ground up.

It wasn’t easy. She faced the loneliness of a new country, the challenge of learning a new culture, and the heartache of distance from loved ones. Still, she pressed forward, finding work, finding community, and a new rhythm of life. But with it came an unreconcilable casualty. The move across continents exposed cracks in her marriage and the couple made the painful but peaceful decision to separate, both wanting what was best for their children.