Anna Allen's Story

I will never forget the day the doctor told me that he was going to amputate my lower right leg. Six weeks earlier on March 31, 1982, I, Anna Conrad Allen, was buried in a horrific avalanche at Alpine Meadows Ski Area near Lake Tahoe. For five days I was entombed in snow and the debris of the building that was home to most of the employee lockers.

Outside my tomb, rescuers from the Alpine Meadows Ski Patrol, search and rescue and members of the WOOF dog team were frantically searching for any survivors while doing their best to avoid being injured from the additional snowfall that was accumulating. Their searches were successful only in finding victims; seven people perished and six of their bodies were discovered while they were searching for me.

After two days, one of the WOOF dogs alerted to my presence but additional snowfall made it impossible to continue searching. Three days later, when the sun finally broke free once more, the same dog, Bridget, alerted her handler to my location and searching began once more. After just a half hour of digging and moving debris, the searchers opened up a hole in my tomb, letting in light, snow and much relief. Their excitement at finding me alive helped overcome the overwhelming grief they were experiencing even after discovering the last victim, their friend and boss, Mountain Manager Bernie Kingery.

It was at Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee, CA that the doctors and I discovered my severe frostbite. Testing showed that neither leg had any blood flow below my knees, bringing up concern that amputations might be necessary. Modern medicine prevailed for a time though and it looked like the only amputations might be to my toes.

Unfortunately, during one of those amputations, the doctors determined my right ankle was severely compromised and likely would need to be amputated in a future surgery. Although the orthopedic surgeon let my mom know immediately following surgery, he was unavailable to tell me for several hours. When he entered my room, his very frank statement let me know all the hope we had for saving both feet had been unsuccessful.

As any one who has suddenly had to face devastating, life-changing news knows, that moment was overwhelming. But the news wasn’t going to go away, and I knew I had to look to the future rather than mourn the past to move on. It was while contemplating the future that I was able to bring to mind amputees skiing at Alpine Meadows. That picture gave me an insight into a much brighter future, one that would indeed involve remaining active. And it made my choice to accept the future instead of dread it.

Now, as a double amputee, with a right below knee and left foot Tran metatarsal amputation, I continue to be challenged with the right adaptations to continue in any activity I choose. Skiing was easily overcome with a high tech prosthetic and custom foot bed, allowing me to ski relatively unencumbered. Bicycle riding is accomplished through special adaptations to an old prosthesis that takes a lot of damage but keeps on working. Swimming means I need to have a leg that can get wet and a special booty to help support my foot. Horseback riding requires patient handlers and horses since I cannot push my heels down in the stirrups. Hiking is sometimes more challenging, since my prosthesis must fit properly and living in Mammoth Lakes means I am secluded from quick and easy help from a prosthetist.

Participating in all of these activities keeps me healthy and enjoying the area I have chosen to make my home. Motivating others to stay active by working at the local schools and ski area motivates me as well. And participating in programs that allow other disabled people to be active in the beautiful Eastern Sierra provides rewards beyond belief. Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra can and is providing those programs. Their success in providing assistance to as many activities as possible will make a difference to someone else, whether they are paraplegic, blind or “simply” an amputee like me.