The 16-year-old from Aspen had just jumped into the water after a scuba dive with her family when two sharks attacked her. She lost her leg and suffered severe hand injuries, but the trauma didn’t end there. A rare infection developed in her leg, requiring months of treatment and 11 surgeries. Her journey to recovery began at Children’s Hospital Colorado, where donor-supported programs, and a team of compassionate nurses, helped her heal not just physically, but emotionally.

Transferred from her local hospital in Aspen, Annabelle arrived at Children’s Colorado with a serious infection. Her care team included orthopedic surgeons, infectious disease specialists, pain management experts, and prosthetics professionals. But it was the sixth-floor nurses who helped her feel like herself again.

“They made me feel clean and comfortable,” Annabelle said. They helped me get back into a routine, doing things I used to do with two legs.”

Every time Annabelle returns to Children’s Colorado, she looks forward to seeing the nurses who helped her through the hardest moments of her recovery. Their care extended beyond clinical expertise—they offered dignity, encouragement, and a sense of normalcy when she needed it most.

Her mother, Kellie, said the hospital’s approach was unlike anything they’d experienced.

Annabelle also found strength through Children’s Colorado’s Amputee Program, which brings together specialists to help young patients stay active and independent. The clinic has become a cornerstone of her care—and a cause she’s passionate about supporting.

 “They helped me figure out what I needed to keep doing the things I love,” she said.

Now off antibiotics and focused on recovery, Annabelle is training to play lacrosse again, skiing near her home, and planning more scuba diving trips. She’s exploring colleges and hopes to study business, with dreams of starting a foundation to help others.