Carol L

Carol L’Italien’s journey is one defined by grit, perseverance, and an unwavering refusal to let circumstance dictate what is possible.

While serving in the U.S. Army, Carol sustained a devastating injury when her ankle was crushed in an accident, fractured in seven places. In the Army, Carol had been trained to stay focused on the mission and push through adversity. After leaving the hospital, she did exactly that, doing what needed to be done and moving forward, even as the long-term impact of her injury continued to unfold.

Although the injury occurred in 1987, its long-term consequences followed Carol for decades. By 2013, after years of worsening pain, impaired mobility, and repeated surgeries, Carol faced a difficult reality. Over a ten-year period, she underwent five surgeries, struggled to walk, and battled both chronic pain and depression. During this time, she gained more than 150 pounds because her body no longer allowed her to live the active life she loved.

Still, Carol never let go of her identity as an athlete.

While receiving care through the VA, she learned about adaptive sports and spoke with a peer visitor who helped her see a different future: one where movement, competition, and joy were still possible. Whether standing, seated, or using adaptive equipment, Carol didn’t care how she played sports but just that she could play sports. That hope gave her the confidence to request a foot amputation in 2013: not as an ending, but as a new beginning.

Carol received her amputation at the Boston VA, where she immersed herself in adaptive sports through their Winter and Summer Sports Clinics. When she later moved to Virginia in 2015, she continued her journey by connecting with organizations that shared her passion for movement and community, including Mission Gait Foundation and Sportable.

The results have been nothing short of extraordinary.

When Carol first tried pickleball, she weighed 293 pounds and couldn’t finish a single game. Her right knee pain was severe, eventually leading to a total knee replacement. Today, after losing 160 pounds and completing rehabilitation following her knee replacement, Carol plays pickleball for hours at a time, competing in an advanced intermediate league alongside able-bodied women and proudly holding her own and excelling in the sport.

Her achievements extend well beyond the court. Carol learned to sit-ski through the Boston VA in New Hampshire and has since gone on to ski in Aspen, Colorado. She also participates in adaptive golf with Mission Gait, playing alongside fellow amputees who share her love of sport and camaraderie.

Today, Carol continues to give back. She volunteers with the American Red Cross and serves as a Sportable Ambassador, helping encourage and support others as they discover adaptive sports and new opportunities for movement. She is also eager to deepen her involvement with Mission Gait Foundation, supporting others who are navigating their own journeys of recovery and reinvention.

When asked what words of encouragement she would offer others, Carol’s message is simple but powerful:

“If you think you can, you can. If you think you can’t, you never will. You are your only obstacle.”

Carol L’Italien’s story reminds us that resilience isn’t about avoiding hardship, it’s about choosing possibility, again and again.

Carol L’Italien’s journey is one defined by grit, perseverance, and an unwavering refusal to let circumstance dictate what is possible.

While serving in the U.S. Army, Carol sustained a devastating injury when her ankle was crushed in an accident, fractured in seven places. In the Army, Carol had been trained to stay focused on the mission and push through adversity. After leaving the hospital, she did exactly that, doing what needed to be done and moving forward, even as the long-term impact of her injury continued to unfold.

Although the injury occurred in 1987, its long-term consequences followed Carol for decades. By 2013, after years of worsening pain, impaired mobility, and repeated surgeries, Carol faced a difficult reality. Over a ten-year period, she underwent five surgeries, struggled to walk, and battled both chronic pain and depression. During this time, she gained more than 150 pounds because her body no longer allowed her to live the active life she loved.

Still, Carol never let go of her identity as an athlete.

While receiving care through the VA, she learned about adaptive sports and spoke with a peer visitor who helped her see a different future: one where movement, competition, and joy were still possible. Whether standing, seated, or using adaptive equipment, Carol didn’t care how she played sports but just that she could play sports. That hope gave her the confidence to request a foot amputation in 2013: not as an ending, but as a new beginning.

Carol received her amputation at the Boston VA, where she immersed herself in adaptive sports through their Winter and Summer Sports Clinics. When she later moved to Virginia in 2015, she continued her journey by connecting with organizations that shared her passion for movement and community, including Mission Gait Foundation and Sportable.

The results have been nothing short of extraordinary.

When Carol first tried pickleball, she weighed 293 pounds and couldn’t finish a single game. Her right knee pain was severe, eventually leading to a total knee replacement. Today, after losing 160 pounds and completing rehabilitation following her knee replacement, Carol plays pickleball for hours at a time, competing in an advanced intermediate league alongside able-bodied women and proudly holding her own and excelling in the sport.

Her achievements extend well beyond the court. Carol learned to sit-ski through the Boston VA in New Hampshire and has since gone on to ski in Aspen, Colorado. She also participates in adaptive golf with Mission Gait, playing alongside fellow amputees who share her love of sport and camaraderie.

Today, Carol continues to give back. She volunteers with the American Red Cross and serves as a Sportable Ambassador, helping encourage and support others as they discover adaptive sports and new opportunities for movement. She is also eager to deepen her involvement with Mission Gait Foundation, supporting others who are navigating their own journeys of recovery and reinvention.

When asked what words of encouragement she would offer others, Carol’s message is simple but powerful:

“If you think you can, you can. If you think you can’t, you never will. You are your only obstacle.”

Carol L’Italien’s story reminds us that resilience isn’t about avoiding hardship, it’s about choosing possibility, again and again.