Amputee to host Kentwood 5K, raise awareness [Video]

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A University of Michigan graduate is back in the Mitten State this week to raise awareness and funding for amputees.

Nicole Ver Kuilen was just 10 years old when she lost her leg to osteosarcoma or bone cancer. Prior to her surgery, Ver Kuilen loved playing with friends, kicked the soccer ball around and rounded the bases while in her softball league. But after surgery, Ver Kuilen and her family were surprised to learn that insurance does not cover prosthetics for physical activity.

“It’s incredibly expensive for the average individual,” she said, with prosthetics ranging from $5,000 to $40,000. “But in the grand scheme of healthcare, it’s not that expensive to provide prosthetics for mobility and to restore someone’s ability.”

Ver Kuilen said she spent many of her formative years still competing as an athlete, but because her prosthetic was for walking, it wasn’t uncommon …