While riding on a Jet Ski in the summer of 2006, a nearby boat crashed into Stamp Walden, a UNC junior, shattering his left calf. He stayed in the hospital for 15 days where doctors performed a partial amputation, removing his leg below the left knee.
But with the support of his family and friends, Walden was determined to overcome the amputation. The doctors told him it would be a year before he could walk with his prosthetic leg. He walked four months after the crash.
Since then, Walden has been determined to stay active.
A tennis player and a cross country runner in high school, he immediately set a quick recovery goal for himself geared around sports.
“My goal was really to be able to play during tennis season,” he said, noting that the season started the spring after his accident. “I wasn’t depressed. I think that’s why I had such a quick recovery.”
Three years after his accident, Walden plans to put his recovery experience and his education as a biomedical engineer to use, working with Ossur, a local orthopedic company. This summer, he will travel to Iceland to study comparative health care analysis.
“I want to learn more about the field (of prosthetics) outside of the U.S.,” he said.
Ossur decided to sponsor Walden after seeing his determination to stay active, providing him with a new prosthetic leg whenever he needs it. Due to his numerous activities, Walden requires a new leg about every four to six months. Most people need a new one only once every year.
Walden plans to go into prosthetic design after graduation so he can help others who suffer from amputations maintain a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle.
“It’s the perfect major to go into,” he said. “I feel like I already know the field.”
Walden’s recovery plan also included surfing and kite running, which he took up to regain his balance skills. In 2008, he spent the summer surfing in the Galapagos Islands.
Determined not to let his amputation interfere with his social life at UNC, he rushed Pi Lambda Phi fraternity. Walden said most brothers didn’t know about his amputated leg until months into his pledging. Because he pledged in the winter, he wore pants most of the time.
Senior and Pi Lambda Phi fraternity brother Eric Anderson said he didn’t know about the amputation at first due to Walden’s energetic lifestyle.
“He’s always in a good mood no matter what, and he’s always looking for something to do,” Anderson said. “He’s more active than most of the fraternity.”
When Walden isn’t busy with the fraternity, he spends his time training for marathons. He runs a short trail every night, a 10K once a week and a 15K every two weeks.
He finished his first half-marathon in November 2008.
“I was exhausted afterwards,” he said. “But then I took a nap and realized I was really proud of myself.”
Walden is currently training to run his first full marathon.
He said his prosthetic leg encourages him to run more than he used to before the accident.
“It doesn’t have as much kick in it as a regular leg,” he said. “But it only makes me want to work harder.”