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Devin Holiday Third Year Political Science Major media type="file" key="DevinHoliday_TIB.m4a"

I Believe Progress Is a Process Before the accident, I used to skate laps on my tennis court whenever I had the chance, usually skating until blisters lined the bottom of my feet. When I was seven years old, though, I became a victim of a hit-and-run accident. This eventually resulted in the amputation of my left leg at the knee. Five years later, once I fully recovered, I developed a passion for playing ice hockey as a goalie. But, due to my circumstances, I could not immediately play on the ice.

The mechanics of my first prosthetic knee were so simple that it only locked in the 180° position. The rest of the time the knee swung freely so relearning how to skate seemed like a curious task. I bought a pair of blades and in a small fenced off enclosure I skated as my mother supervised. I did not skate as fluidly as before and I was filled with doubt when I lifted my right leg off the ground. I fell more than enough, but within a few weeks I was skating in the park behind my house. After I learned to skate, I studied how professional goalies played their position.

The symmetry of a hockey goalie is what draws me to the position. I witnessed how easily they dropped into the "butterfly." When I watched a goalie fall to his knees with the blocker and catcher extended parallel to the ice, I thought about how I would be able to incorporate that style. Since my right leg would be supporting the majority of my weight, I was unsure how easily I could drop to the surface and immediately rise to my feet to face the next shot. I kept that in mind when I bought my first set of leg pads.



I chose a lighter pair of leg pads because I figured less weight would make dropping to the "butterfly" easier. The following week I signed up to play recreational hockey for the upcoming season, which was not starting for another month. This gave me time to practice. I had the opportunity to go to pick-up sessions and become acclimated to taking powerful shots and to also practice the "butterfly" technique. Skaters told me I dropped down pretty fast, so I was content with my development.

 I played roller hockey for six years. I was on one championship team and placed second on several different occasions. I was the starter on my junior high team and played through to high school. However, I struggled skating on the ice because my prosthesis would slip from under me. My positioning was disgraceful and I could not block pucks like I could when I played on the roller surface.

I believe progress is a process. Since the time I received my first prosthesis, several technological advancements have been made. I now use a knee which relies on a hydraulic resistance, which sustains my weight at different angles and takes pressure off my right leg. This knee gives me more stability and I now play ice hockey on a regular basis.