Limbs For Carla

Limbs for Carla

In 1990, just after celebrating her wedding to long haul trucker Gary, Carla Elam was stunned to learn she had bone cancer. Carla knew there had to be another option to the immediate amputation of her left leg and she found it. She convinced the doctors at Vanderbilt University that they were wrong-- she was not “too old” or “too fat” for limb sparing surgery which uses an implant to replace the cancerous bone.

Carla successfully went through a grueling year long medical regimen and continued to live a full life that ultimately included custody of two grandchildren. Life was great. Cancer rechecks were negative.  Even a problem with the implant in her leg was handled by inserting a metal plate. All was well until last December when her leg gave way at a recent wedding.