How this local quadruple amputee is bouncing back

Celeste Bradley Photo edited scaled — Meet Celeste Bradley 🦋 (Celeste Bradley)

Did you know that October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)?

Celeste Bradley, a 25-year-old Huntsville local, is believed to be one of the only quadruple amputees in the state. Last December, Celeste underwent a Septoplasty—a procedure to correct snoring—that turned into a sudden, life-threatening case of Sepsis. As a result, she lost both her hands and legs.

Almost a year later, Celeste has faced recovery with incredibly inspiring optimism and strength. She’s currently raising funds for advanced myoelectric prosthetic hands (not covered by insurance) that will allow her to live and work independently again.

About Celeste

Celeste Bradley grad photo — Get to know more about Celeste. 👇 (Celeste Bradley)

Occupation: Pediatric Speech Pathologist
Background: Bachelor’s Degree from Auburn University and Master’s Degree from Alabama A&M
Hobbies: Spending time with family, training with her dog, dining at new local restaurants, attending Jazz in the Park, playing pickleball

Celeste spent her teenage years babysitting and spending time with children on all sides of the neuro-typical/divergent spectrum. Through these experiences, she grew passionate about working with children and helping neurodivergent individuals learn how to communicate.

“Seeing that I actually do make a difference has been so rewarding. When I discharged my first patient, I just remember feeling, wow, I actually did something that was helpful. Now this child gets to go play with their peers.”
Celeste Bradley

Her journey as an amputee

The support from her family and community played a major role in motivating Celeste during the months she spent in hospitals and rehab.

“I can remember begging physicians to let me leave so I could go home and go to work. My end goal had always been to make it back to work and back to my sweet little puppy.

I had the support of so many people. I was never alone, whether it was an aunt or uncle, cousins, my parents or my siblings. My friends even infiltrated the hospital room after I told them I didn’t want anybody to see me, but they came and showed up—and I needed it.”
Celeste Bradley

She is super active on her TikTok page where she shares everything from milestones and recovery updates to content featuring her adorable Goldendoodle, Duke. When I spoke with her, I asked if there was a milestone in her journey that was especially meaningful:

“I would say being able to walk again because while I was in a chair, I was very limited where I could go. I couldn’t fit through some of the doorways in my house, so all I could see were four walls at a time. It was hard to see how things would get better.

When I got my legs, it opened up an entirely different world for me. I got to go to my nephew’s baseball and soccer games again, and I got to walk into my office again. I got to go all of these places that were limited for me while I was in the chair.”
Celeste Bradley

3 ways you can support Celeste

Celeste support pic — Celeste and her family 🫂 (Celeste Bradley)

Celeste shared the three best ways people can support her journey and other amputees:

1. Spreading awareness

“If people are more aware about the daily struggles that amputees face, then maybe we can get insurance programs or legislation to help us get what we need. Overall, it’s been difficult getting good quality prosthetics that will get me back to where I need to be, so I think the first step would be spreading awareness.”
Celeste Bradley

2. Making donations

“The next step would be donating to programs that help individuals like me receive the necessary prosthetics or therapy.”
Celeste Bradley

3. Accepting differences

“It’s also important to teach our youth and everyone in our community that people can be different and we do not have to be afraid of being different, or others who are different.”
Celeste Bradley

Follow her on TikTok and check out her GoFundMe for regular updates in her journey.👇