Ralston Valley High School senior Bronwyn Elisha sits at her desk in French class. Her teachers say her vibrant sense of humor has helped her deal with a leg amputation that came as the result of a medical condition with which she was born.
The Jeffco Schools Foundation has honored heroes in Jeffco Public Schools for the past 13 years. This long-standing tradition recognizes outstanding teachers and high school seniors who demonstrate extraordinary character, leadership, and strength. Students and teachers are nominated by their principals, and the final honorees are chosen by a volunteer selection committee comprised of community representatives and the Jeffco Schools Foundation Board members. Meet 2015 honoree Bronwyn Elisha.
Ralston Valley High School senior Bronwyn Elisha was born without a fibula bone in her left leg. She grew up with the knowledge that she would one day have to decide whether to amputate her leg. In August of 2014, she made her decision.
“I had talked to my doctor and I realized this was the best decision for me,” said Elisha. “I did it because I had to.”
Elisha’s amputation has not kept her from what she loves. She continues to participate in the Girl Scouts, National Art Honor Society, the Gay-Straight Alliance, and other school activities close to her heart. Her spirit in the face of a frightening reality has wowed teachers and fellow classmates. Elisha has even added some humor to her story.
“What has amazed me is how she’s dealt with the loss of part of her leg,” said Ralston Valley French teacher Andrea Leslie. “It has not slowed her down a bit. We did a skit in French last year, and in the skit they had to lose something in a house and look for it. She took off her leg and hid it in front of the class and proceeded with the skit…”
When Elisha and her father stepped into Paige Zaboth’s office last August, the high school counselor was impressed by her desire to get right back into the rythym of her active life at Ralston Valley.
“Bronwyn’s a really unique senior,” said Zaboth. “She’s the type of senior I think that is in the halls at a lot of high schools and would go relatively unnoticed, but she shouldn’t… I see her standing on ladders in the hallway putting up decorations for different things we do here at school with her shorts on and her prosthetic leg… she is brave.”
Elisha was in the middle of chemistry class when she heard that she had been nominated for a Jeffco Hero Award.
“That was a pretty good start to the day,” she said.
Elisha is working to create a program for children facing amputation and their parents, so they may better understand life after an amputation from someone who has already gone through it.
“When I went through my amputation we kept saying ‘we should probably talk with someone,’” said Elisha. “I want for people to have that – to help them out.”
See the JPS-TV version of this story here.