Kaitlyn Dobrow – Quadruple Amputee Inspiring Others
Kaitlyn Dobrow’s life changed forever in February 2013. Kaitlyn nearly died after she contracted bacterial meningitis. She is now a quadruple amputee, but her new outlook on life after surviving the terrifying ordeal is nothing short of amazing. Read on and see why Kaitlyn is such an inspiration.
Kaitlyn contracted bacterial meningitis, and the deadly infection caused her blood to clot and stopped it from reaching over 50% of her skin. The damage that caused to Kaitlyn’s body was the equivalent of receiving third-degree burns.
Kaitlyn spent six months in an intensive care unit where she had 20 surgeries including skin grafts. Candy Cooper, a nurse who cared for Kaitlyn, shared how thrilled she was with Kaitlyn’s healing when she visited Kaitlyn in the burn unit, saying that her recovery was “nothing short of a miracle.”
“It’s not just her physical progress but her mental progress,” the nurse said. “Things like this change you. You get a different introspective on your life than you normally would have. It forces you to look deep in your soul, at what people mean to you, and how strong you really are.”
And Kaitlyn’s nurse wasn’t the only one who noticed the transformation. Her older brother told her how much she’s changed, too. “He was like telling me, ‘Before, you were so mean and there was nothing wrong with you. You had your arms and you were mean,’” she remembered. “‘Now you’re just a torso and you’re so nice.’”
Kaitlyn knows her illness transformed her soul as much as her physical being. She admits she used to be very insecure, defensive and short-tempered with others. But something happened to her in the hospital that changed all that.
Kaitlyn felt God’s love for her blanket her in that intensive care room, and she decided to dedicate her life to Jesus. She now spends a lot of her time studying the Bible and at church.
After she became ill, Kaitlyn understandably felt terrified when she lost skin and eventually her arms and legs. But then something happened. She was overcome by peace and wanting to share with others these words from John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
“I don’t feel that sense of doom anymore,” she said. “I want to live.”
“God told me 2016 is going to be my year.”
And 2016 is proving to be just that for Kaitlyn. She’s ditched her wheelchair in favor of prosthetic limbs, giving her some much-needed freedom to branch out and be independent again. And she’s using that new-found independence to inspire others.
“I’m excited but nervous to actually get my life started. I’ve been so coddled for years and so taken care of. Now I have to start doing it on my own,” Kaitlyn said.
Kaitlyn was very interested in cosmetology and started beauty blogging on YouTube, showing make-up tutorials. The brave beauty has pink blotchy scars on her face from where the blood clotted and restricted blood flow to her tissues. She doesn’t always get the makeup on right the first time, and she laughs when she struggles to apply the beauty products. And it’s her cheery outlook about all of those imperfections that have helped her connect with others, reaching them with inspiration.
Her red splotches are becoming less noticeable now with time, and Kaitlyn seems like she may miss them, saying:
“God said that shows you’re a warrior, don’t try to hide them. I’m getting kind of upset that they’re fading. I think they look pretty cool.”
And we think Kaitlyn’s pretty cool too! Has Kaitlyn’s story inspired you? Let us know in the comments below.
WATCH: Quadruple Amputee Inspires Others
From Inside Edition’s YouTube video of Kaitlyn: Despite having no arms, 22-year-old Kaitlyn Dobrow can apply some killer makeup. The quadruple amputee lost all four of her limbs to bacterial meningitis but it doesn’t stop her from creating Halloween makeup looks. Now she’s inspiring thousands on social media with her latest cheetah print makeup tutorial that, with or without arms, is more than impressive. Kaitlyn doesn’t know what’s in store for the future but she’s proven her positive attitude can get her through anything.
h/t: ocregister photo credit: Ana Venegas
