Traumatic leg injury and amputation: Ryleigh's Story
When Ryleigh headed out to do chores on her family's farm in August 2023, she expected an ordinary summer day. Instead, a crash involving an ATV changed her life in an instant. At 14 years old, she faced a devastating injury, months of recovery and difficult decisions about her future.
Ryleigh was driving an ATV back from shutting off water in a pasture when she swerved to avoid a rock and overcorrected. The vehicle rolled, crushing her right leg. Alone and seriously injured, she quickly realized something was terribly wrong. Soon, family members, first responders and a Life Flight team were by her side.
She took Life Flight from her home in Abilene, Kan. to receive emergency treatment and surgery in Wichita, Kan. When the Wichita care team determined she needed more extensive care, Ryleigh was transferred to Children's Mercy, and she said after arriving, everything felt different.
"There was a huge difference," Ryleigh said. "Everybody was nice and kind."
Orthopedic surgeon Ryan Koehler, MD, and a comprehensive care team took over her treatment. Her injury, a severe open fracture of the tibia and fibula with extensive soft tissue damage, required complex care and multiple procedures. Physicians worked to save her leg, but the severity of the injury and concerns about infection ultimately led to a below-knee amputation.
For Ryleigh, one of the hardest parts wasn't just recovering physically, it was being away from the people and activities she loved most.
The county fair and rodeo were taking place while she was hospitalized. She missed showing her steer and spending time with friends during one of her favorite weeks of the year. Not knowing what would happen next made the experience even more difficult.
She remembers the small acts of kindness that made long days in the hospital a little brighter. Nurses decorated her room, braided her hair and cheered her on throughout recovery. One team member, Bianca Stewart, Environmental Services Technician, made bracelets and necklaces for Ryleigh, sang to her and always stopped by with an encouraging word.
"I knew that people believed in me," Ryleigh said. "So I had to believe in myself."
With support from her family, friends and care team, Ryleigh focused on what came next instead of what she had lost. She worked closely with rehabilitation specialists and the prosthetics team as she adjusted to life with a prosthetic leg.
Just three months after leaving the hospital, she reached a milestone she will never forget.
She got back on a horse.
"I don't even know how to explain that feeling," Ryleigh said. "It was such a happy moment."
For someone who grew up around the rodeo, getting back in the saddle felt like the start of a new chapter.
Today, 17-year-old Ryleigh is back to doing the things she loves. She plays volleyball, competes in rodeo events and hangs out with her friends. Most importantly, she feels like herself again.
“Ryleigh is an absolutely incredible young lady who has overcome a devastating injury to get back to all her activities,” Dr. Koehler said. “She has been inspirational to work with, and I’ve been most impressed with how she has approached each challenge with a positive attitude.”
"It feels great," she said. "I feel normal again. I feel like I can keep up with everybody else."
When asked what advice she would give another young person facing a life-changing injury, her answer reflected the mindset that carried her through recovery.
"You just always have to find the good thing," Ryleigh said. "Things are going to go wrong, but you have to find something good about it and focus on that."
Today, Ryleigh's story isn't defined by the injury she experienced. It's defined by her determination, the support of those around her and the life she's returned to building. From the volleyball court to the rodeo arena, she's doing what she loves again — and looking ahead to what's next.