These famous faces lost their lives on October 31
Amputation, which is the removal of a limb due to trauma, medical illness, or surgery, is more common than people realize. In the United States alone, there are approximately 185,000 cases per year. Experts estimate that by 2050, there will be approximately 3.6 million amputees in the country.
Interestingly, surgical amputations are often performed to manage pain or to control and prevent disease. It may come as a surprise that several celebrities have undergone procedures resulting in the loss of one or more limbs.
Take a look at this gallery to discover which well-known individuals have experienced amputations.
In 1984, Rick Allen, the drummer of Def Leppard, experienced a devastating accident. While driving his Corvette in Sheffield, England, he collided with a brick wall.
Despite losing his left arm, he miraculously survived the incident. However, this setback didn't hinder his determination. He persevered and adapted his drumming technique to play with one hand, continuing his activities without skipping a beat.
Jerry Garcia, a musician and founding member of the Grateful Dead who passed away in 1995, unfortunately lost a significant portion of his middle finger during his youth while assisting his brother with wood chopping.
However, despite losing his middle finger, Garcia persevered and went on to achieve great success as a guitarist. He became known as one of the most accomplished musicians of his time, often greeting fans with the middle finger.
Frida Kahlo, the artist, passed away at the age of 47. She faced surgery complications leading to gangrene and the loss of half of her right leg shortly before her death.
The renowned Mexican painter experienced profound devastation after the loss of her leg. However, she resiliently navigated this trauma by channeling her emotions into her art and embracing humor along the way.
In 2011, Zsa Zsa Gabor, a renowned actress and socialite, underwent a crucial leg amputation above the knee due to an untreatable infection she had acquired.
Deion Sanders, the renowned NFL cornerback, shared that he underwent surgery to amputate two toes on his left foot due to three dangerous blood clots. Sanders, currently serving as the University of Colorado football head football coach, made this discovery known in a preview for the episode of his Barstool Sports docuseries, 'Coach Prime'.
According to a report from USA Today, he had surgery on his foot to address a dislocated toe and inflamed nerve. However, complications arose afterwards when his toes began to darken, and he was diagnosed with blood clots in his calf. This led to the development of compartment syndrome, which is characterized by unhealthy muscle pressure that can impede blood and oxygen flow. Additionally, he learned from his mother that blood clots are hereditary in their family.
In 1993, the renowned jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald, commonly known as the "Voice of Jazz," underwent a double leg amputation due to complications from diabetes.
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.
During the Second World War, James Doohan, a Canadian actor famous for playing Montgomery "Scotty" Scott in 'Star Trek', suffered the loss of one of his fingers.
After being shot through the finger, the esteemed actor had to undergo amputation. To conceal the absence of his finger on camera, he would often keep it hidden.
At the age of 13, surfing legend Bethany Hamilton suffered a shark attack while surfing off the coast of Hawaii, resulting in the loss of her left arm.
Hamilton had reportedly lost more than 60% of her blood prior to arriving at the hospital. Nonetheless, she survived the ordeal, and her story was even adapted into a film called 'Soul Surfer' (2011).
Tony Lommi, guitarist of Black Sabbath, achieved an admirable career despite a hand injury. At the age of 17, he sadly lost the tips of two fingers, yet persevered and prevailed.
According to sources, he felt discouraged initially after the traumatic incident, but he later regained his strength and discovered creative methods to carry on with his music.
In November 2021, actor Dean Winters discussed his experience with multiple amputations that started in 2009.
The actor from 'Law & Order: SVU' and 'Oz' caught a bacterial infection, leading to cardiac arrest and a near-death experience. He underwent several surgeries and had to amputate half of his thumb and two toes, due to gangrene.
Despite being born with only one hand, Jim Abbott achieved significant success as an MLB pitcher. He learned to accomplish tasks that typically require two hands, showcasing his determination and skill.
The renowned pitcher with one hand had a 10-season career in Major League Baseball from 1989 to 1999, playing for teams like the California Angels, the New York Yankees, and the Chicago White Sox.
Ted Kennedy Jr., a politician and the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, underwent a right leg amputation in 1973 due to the discovery of bone cancer.
At the time, the young Kennedy was only 12 years old. It seemed that his father had to quickly go to the hospital to visit him after accompanying his niece Kathleen on her wedding day.
Heather Mills, a well-known British media personality and former spouse of Paul McCartney, has been living with a leg amputation following a road traffic accident in 1993.
In 2015, Mills stated in an interview with Event magazine that her confidence remains unaffected by being an amputee. She expressed, "I’m very confident as a woman and there isn’t a part of my body I’m not happy with, ".
CNN former news anchor Miles O'Brien suffered a serious accident in 2014. While wrapping up his work in Japan, a case of TV equipment accidentally struck his left arm.
O'Brien sought medical attention at the ER the next day. Doctors performed an above-elbow amputation to prevent compartment syndrome, a condition he was at risk of developing.
Dave Dravecky, a former baseball pitcher, faced a setback in his career during the late 1980s when he was diagnosed with cancer in his left arm. Ultimately, doctors had to amputate it.
Unfortunately, Dravecky's baseball career came to a halt due to the amputation. However, he didn't let that stop him. He found a new path as a motivational speaker and writer.
Sources: (Men's Health) (Metro)
See also: See also: Athletes who suffered serious injuries on the job
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CELEBRITY Medical
Amputation, which is the removal of a limb due to trauma, medical illness, or surgery, is more common than people realize. In the United States alone, there are approximately 185,000 cases per year. Experts estimate that by 2050, there will be approximately 3.6 million amputees in the country.
Interestingly, surgical amputations are often performed to manage pain or to control and prevent disease. It may come as a surprise that several celebrities have undergone procedures resulting in the loss of one or more limbs.
Take a look at this gallery to discover which well-known individuals have experienced amputations.