This Quadruple Amputee's Passion For Running Will Amaze You

It is rare to find people who transform their weaknesses into strengths and become an inspiration for all. One such woman who is winning hearts of millions of people across the world through her indomitable spirit is Shalini Saraswathi.

After returning from a vacation in Cambodia, Shalini fell ill. Her fever led to organ failure and she had a close shave with death. The then pregnant Shalini also lost all her limbs to a rare form of bacterial infection which led to multiple organ failure.

These obstacles, however, couldn't deter her from chasing her dreams and enjoying life to the hilt. She is extremely fond of running and also participated in last year's TCS 10k race in Bengaluru.

"In the beginning, I wanted to get away from it all; but now I'm enjoying it,"- Shalini Saraswathi

Facebook page Being You published her inspirational story. In the post, Shalini opens up about her ordeal and how she chooses to deal with it.

She says, "I raged. I was angry and hurt and upset. Why did this happen to me? What had I done wrong? I thought it was karma, but I couldn’t think of anything I had done *this* wrong. But finally, I decided it was time to move on."

Her passion for running gave her a direction to conquer her fear, rebuild her life and achieve the unthinkable.

According to a report by TOI, the quadruple amputee ran at the TCS World 10K organised in 2016 in Bengaluru. She tells them, "In the beginning, I wanted to get away from it all; but now I'm enjoying it."

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Her post has been shared around 4800 times. Naresh Hanji, a Facebook user, comments, "Salute your grit and determination Shalini. You are an inspiration to thousands who think life is over after a mishap."

Read her post here:

When I arrived to have my legs amputated, I was wearing bright purple nail polish on my feet. Might as well go out in style, I figured. A month had passed since my right arm decided to auto-amputate, just dropping off into my brother-in-law’s hands. A few months before that, my left arm had been amputated as well. Now it was time to move on.

I had been a successful 32-year-old, doing well at work, happily married and newly pregnant. I was just back from a vacation in Cambodia and reveling in ticking one off the bucket list when I fell sick with a fever. It all began rather innocently. And then it escalated, and how. Fever became organ failure. Organ failure became a brush with death. Months later, I had lost both my arms and legs to a bacterial infection that the doctor had heard of only in his exam.

I raged. I was angry and hurt and upset. Why did this happen to me? What had I done wrong? I thought it was karma, but I couldn’t think of anything I had done *this* wrong. But finally, I decided it was time to move on.

And so I ran. In the beginning, it was just to lose weight and get fit, but the challenge was addictive. When I run, I feel like I win over my body. I can look back at Destiny and swear at how wrong it was about me. It didn’t win. I still get to call the shots. My life, my decisions, my dreams; limbs or no limbs.

Women like Shalini Saraswathi remind us of the limitless potential each one of us has. She has proved that roadblocks in life are just meant to help us tap in our inner strength and transform our and others' lives.

Image credits: Deccan Herald

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Charvi Is An Intern With SheThePeople.TV