Do you believe that connection happens when you find pieces of your own story in someone else’s?
That’s exactly what happened when I met Sonia, the founder of Wings for Limbs, here in Oakville.
We come from different countries and have lived very different journeys, yet there was something in Sonia’s story that touched a very personal place in my heart.
It reminded me of my dad.
The story we knew, but never talked about
Growing up, we all knew that my dad was an amputee.
But we never really talked about it.
When my dad was a child, he was playing with his friends, jumping from one rooftop to another, when he fell and badly injured his leg. Days later, his family was faced with the difficult decision to amputate.
His mother insisted that the amputation be below the knee, hoping it would allow him to move more easily and have a more normal, active life.
And that is exactly what my dad did.
He never allowed his amputation to define him.
He lived an active life, played bowling at university, and was always there encouraging me throughout my own journey as a competitive swimmer.
His strength was something I grew up seeing, but I don’t think I fully understood where it came from.
Until I was ten years old.
When his past became part of my story
I developed a serious infection in my hip joint and was admitted to the hospital.
I remember how worried my dad was, yet he kept reassuring me. He told me that many athletes had undergone operations and continued with their sports.
He encouraged me to believe that I would be okay.
I could see the worry in my parents’ eyes, but I also remember my dad sitting quietly in a chair, almost as if he was revisiting his own experience.
At the time, I didn’t understand what was happening inside him.
Years passed.
We all grew up, left home and started our own families. And still, no one really asked my dad what had happened to him as a child—or how he had felt.
But I had questions.
The conversation I will always remember
Two years before my dad passed away, we were sitting together on the balcony, sipping tea.
I finally started the conversation.
It was as if he had been waiting for someone to ask.
He began telling me exactly what had happened to him, sharing details that were more than 70 years old as if they had happened yesterday.
As he spoke, I could almost see him as a little boy.
And for the first time, I understood something about my dad that I hadn’t understood before.
I understood how difficult it must have been to endure so much pain while trying to stay strong for his family.
I understood that he had learned very young how to move forward without allowing himself to feel less than his friends.
And I understood that some of the ways he responded to life were not because he lacked emotion or empathy.
He had simply learned that he had to be strong.
My dad was resilient.
And then I met Sonia
When I met Sonia in Oakville, I recognized something familiar.
I saw that same resilience.
The strength to turn a personal experience into something bigger than yourself. The courage to create something that could help others.
So when Sonia told me she was starting Wings for Limbs, I didn’t think twice about supporting her.
For me, this was never simply about creating a piece of jewelry for a cause.
It was personal.
It connected me to my dad, to a part of his story that took me years to understand, and to a woman who was turning her own story into a way to support others.
She Rises
Today, for the second year, I am honoured to continue this collaboration:
Inamullumani × Wings for Limbs
Our new pendant, She Rises necklace, was inspired by Sonia’s story and represents resilience, strength, freedom and the ability to rise through life’s challenges.
Every piece carries more than its physical form.
It carries a story.
And for me, this one carries a little piece of my dad’s story too.
Because sometimes, when we find a piece of our own story in someone else, we don’t just feel connected.
We understand.
And sometimes, that understanding becomes a reason to give back.
You can be part of the story
There are different ways to support Wings for Limbs.
You can support our Inamullumani × Wings for Limbs collaboration by choosing She Rises, or you can join us in person for the 5K Run to Rise on October 3rd in Oakville.
Run, walk, bring your family and friends, or simply show your support.
Every step is a step toward raising awareness and supporting the limb-loss community.
Join the 5K Run to Rise — October 3rd in Oakville
Because when we rise, we can help others rise too. 💛