Paralympian Amy Purdy on Surviving 2% Odds at 19: 'I Was Fighting for My Life'

Former 'Dancing with the Stars' finalist and Paralympian Amy Purdy opened up about the devastating illness that nearly killed her at 19, when bacterial meningitis led to the loss of both legs below the knee, her spleen, and kidney function, leaving doctors to give her a 2% chance of survival. Purdy's journey from intensive care to the Paralympic podium and a bestselling new book, 'Bounce Forward,' stands as one of the most remarkable comeback stories in American sports, a testament to the kind of resilience that redefines what the human spirit can endure. Her story resonates at a moment when the news is dominated by conflict and loss, offering a reminder that the most powerful human stories are often the ones about refusing to let suffering have the final word.