Christy Kinsey (maiden name Wise) was born in Reno, Nevada and grew up with a twin sister and younger brother, spending all their time skiing and playing sports. For college, Christy attended the United States Air Force Academy where she ski raced and played club softball. In 2009, she commissioned as an officer in the United States Air Force and in 2011, she received her pilot wings to fly the HC-130. She spent the next couple years stationed in Valdosta Georgia, and deployed to Afghanistan and Italy.
On April 11, 2015, Christy was visiting her friends for the weekend in Destin, Florida and she was on her paddleboard in a protected cove behind her friends’ house when she was struck by a hit-and-run boat driver. Although Christy’s life was miraculously saved, she lost her right leg above the knee in the incident.
Christy was determined not to let this change her life so she fought to stay in the Air Force and continue flying. She became the sixth Air Force pilot (and first female) to return to flying after an amputation. Along the way, she won 11 medals in the DOD Warrior Games and competed in two international Invictus Games. Humbled by all the support she received since the first night in the hospital, Christy and her twin sister Jessica started a non-profit, One Leg Up On Life, that provides prosthetic limbs to patients in Haiti.
Christy’s courage and determination to continue her Air Force career while also using her experience to help others exemplifies tremendous resiliency and strength of character.
Learn more about the One Leg Up On Life Foundation:
http://www.oneleguponlife.org/