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Amputation, which refers to the removal of a limb by trauma, medical illness, or surgery, is more common than you might think. In the US alone, there are around 185,000 cases per year, and it is estimated that there will be around 3.6 million amputees in the country by 2050.
Indeed, amputation by surgery is often used to control pain, or to control or prevent disease. And it might surprise you to learn that there are a number of celebrities who have lost one or more limbs, often as part of a surgical procedure.
Check out this gallery to find out which famous figures are amputees.
British media personality Heather Mills, who is also known for having been married to Paul McCartney, has only had half her leg since she got into a road traffic accident in 1993.
In 2015, Mills told Event magazine that being an amputee has not affected her confidence: "I’m very confident as a woman and there isn’t a part of my body I’m not happy with," she said.
Singer Ella Fitzgerald, who is often referred to as the "Voice of Jazz," had a double leg amputation in 1993. It was her diabetes that made the amputation necessary.
Following the operation, the 75-year-old was bound to a wheelchair and she stopped with some of her musical endeavors. Sources suggest that her spirit, however, never wavered.
Legendary NFL cornerback Deion Sanders recently revealed that he had two toes amputated on his left foot after being diagnosed with three life-threatening blood clots. Sanders, who is currently the Jackson State University head football coach, made the revelation in the preview for the latest episode of his docuseries, 'Coach Prime' for Barstool Sports.
He had underwent surgery on his foot to fix a dislocated toe and inflamed nerve, but afterward complications arose as his toes darkened and he was diagnosed with blood clots in his calf, USA Today reports. He developed compartment syndrome, which involves unhealthy muscle pressure that can limit the flow of blood and oxygen, and he then found out from his mother that blood clots run in the family.
"They were first talking about the amputation of toes, then the amputation of my leg from knee down, and then they were trying to ensure that I had life," said Sanders, who underwent a total of eight surgeries and fortunately only lost two toes. In the preview clip, Sanders is shown his foot post-amputation for the first time. "The hardest thing of it all was to look down there and see that, and understand that once upon a time, you were this type of athlete," Sanders says in the documentary. "And you don’t even know if you’re gonna walk because all you feel is pain, and you just want to get out of this hospital. You just want to get out.”
In early November 2021, actor Dean Winters opened up about suffering from multiple amputations, beginning in 2009.
The 'Law & Order: SVU' and 'Oz' star contracted a bacterial infection and went into cardiac arrest, almost dying. Following multiple operations and suffering from gangrene, he had half a thumb and two toes amputated.
Musician Jerry Garcia, who was a founding member of the Grateful Dead, lost two thirds of his middle finger at a young age. He was helping his brother chop wood at the time.
But Garcia didn't let the loss of his middle finger get in the way: he went on to become one of the most successful guitarists of his generation, often saluting fans by giving the middle finger.
Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen suffered a terrible accident in 1984. He was racing his Corvette through Sheffield, England, when he crashed it into a brick wall.
He was lucky to survive the incident, but ultimately it cost him his left arm. The drummer did not let it stop him though: he learnt to play one-handed and carried on business as usual!
Artist Frida Kahlo died at the tender age of 47. Shortly before she passed, she suffered surgery complications that developed into gangrene and ultimately cost her half of her right leg.
The esteemed Mexican painter was said to be devastated by the loss of her leg, but she worked through the trauma with the help of her art and humor.
Canadian actor James Doohan, who was best known for his role as Montgomery "Scotty" Scott in the 'Star Trek' franchise, lost his finger while fighting in the Second World War.
The amputation came after a bullet went right through his finger. The esteemed actor would hide the missing finger most of the time when on camera.
Surfing legend Bethany Hamilton lost her left arm in a shark attack when she was just 13 years old. She was surfing off the shore of Hawaii at the time.
Hamilton had apparently lost over 60% of her blood before she reached the hospital. However, she lived to tell the tale, and there is even a film about her, 'Soul Surfer' (2011).
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Lommi is another musician who managed to forge an impressive career with his hands compromised. He lost the tips of two fingers when he was 17 years old.
Sources suggest that he was initially discouraged following the incident that caused the trauma, but that he eventually rallied and found inventive ways to continue with his music.
Given his major success as an MLB pitcher, it is easy to forget that Jim Abbott was born with only one hand. He trained to do with one hand what other people have to do with two.
The famous one-handed pitcher played 10 MLB seasons between 1989 and 1999. His teams included the California Angels, the New York Yankees, and the Chicago White Sox.
Politician Ted Kennedy Jr., who is the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, had his right leg amputated in 1973 after doctors found a form of bone cancer in it.
The young Kennedy was just 12 years old at the time, and apparently his father had to rush to the hospital to see him after walking his niece Kathleen down the aisle on the same day.
Former CNN news anchor Miles O'Brien was involved in a terrible accident in 2014. While packing up a case of TV equipment after a job in Japan, one of the cases fell on his left arm.
O'Brien did not go to the ER until the following day, but when he did the doctors amputated his arm above the elbow so as to prevent a condition called compartment syndrome.
Former baseball pitcher Dave Dravecky suffered a career setback during the late 1980s when he was diagnosed with cancer in his left arm. Doctors eventually had to amputate.
The amputation sadly put an end to Dravecky's baseball career, but he embarked upon a new career as a motivational speaker and author.
Sources: (Men's Health) (Metro)
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Celebrities who are amputees
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CELEBRITY Medical
Amputation, which refers to the removal of a limb by trauma, medical illness, or surgery, is more common than you might think. In the US alone, there are around 185,000 cases per year, and it is estimated that there will be around 3.6 million amputees in the country by 2050.
Indeed, amputation by surgery is often used to control pain, or to control or prevent disease. And it might surprise you to learn that there are a number of celebrities who have lost one or more limbs, often as part of a surgical procedure.
Check out this gallery to find out which famous figures are amputees.