Double amputee bride wears a dress for the FIRST time at her wedding

Double amputee bride wears a dress for the FIRST time at her wedding

07/25/2019

Double amputee bride wears a dress for the FIRST time at her wedding after having prosthetic legs fitted that match her skin colour and allow her to wear heels

  • Katarina Floridia, 27,  had always been embarrassed by her prosthetic legs 
  • New real life prosthetic legs match her skin color and accommodate heels 
  • Walked down the aisle and married her fiance feeling confident in her dress 

A double amputee had the confidence to wear a dress for the first time on her wedding day – due to her new state-of-the-art legs. 

Katarina Floridia, 27, from Ashland, Massachusetts, had always been embarrassed about her legs, covering them even on sweltering hot beach days.

But thanks to her new legs – from A Step Ahead Prosthetics, which match her skin color and accommodate heels, Katarina was able to make her dream come true by walking down the aisle in confidence with her father on her arm and marrying fiance Andrew Pfeffer. 

Katarina said: ‘It made the beautiful bride that I have always hoped and dreamt of being – I was a princess bride that could finally see her toes. 

‘Walking down the aisle was the most emotionally moment of my life. I felt that my self-esteem and self-confidence returned after it had being damaged my whole life – I never felt so beautiful, confident or strong.’

A double amputee had the confidence to wear a dress for the first time on her wedding day – due to new state-of-the-art legs

Thanks to her new legs – from A Step Ahead Prosthetics, which matches her skin color and accommodate heels – Katarina was able to make her dream come true by walking down the aisle in confidence with her father on her arm

A double amputee had the confidence to wear a dress for the first time on her wedding day – due to her new state-of-the-art legs.

Katarina, a congenital bilateral amputee, has had to wear prosthetics her whole life, having been adopted from Moscow, Russia, when she was 18 months old, and moving to the United States. 

When she was born, bands formed in her amniotic fluid, restricting the growth of her legs. Over the years, Katarina said, she has had a difficult relationship with prosthetics – from having the confidence to wear previous models out in public, to experiencing the cost of healthcare related to her condition. 

She decided that was going to change on her wedding day – and through the support of her husband, Andrew Pfeffer, 28, and the team at A Step Ahead Prosthetics, she was able to achieve that, selecting everything from skin tone to the kind of veining she would like on her feet. 

In an emotional moment ahead of her wedding in June this year – and in which Katarina shared on her wedding day to help tell her story – the double amputee tried on A Step Ahead’s prosthetics for the very first time. 

As she tried on her new legs Katarina (pictured) said that her self-esteem and self-confidence returned after it being damaged her whole life

She was brought to tears as she tried on the specially designed prosthetics, revealing they immediately gave her the confidence to show off her legs and walk down the aisle in front of those dearest to her. 

Many people – even friends and family – had not known what Katarina had experienced emotionally while wearing prosthetics her whole life, and so when she gathered the confidence to explain her situation before her wedding day, she was greeted with hugs, kisses and many tears.

Talking about the wedding she said: ‘My father was discharged from hospital the day before my wedding, and I just remember looking over to him as we waited for our cue to walk and said, ‘we made it – I love you.’ 

Over the years, Katarina said, she has had a difficult relationship with prosthetics – from having the confidence to wear previous models out in public, to experiencing the cost of healthcare related to her condition. Pictured on her wedding day with her new legs 

‘There was not a dry eye when walking down the aisle because everyone could see how happy I was and that I finally believed in the person that I really am.’ 

The prosthetics feature ProSystem SkinTones Systems’ silicone covers, which had been custom made to match her skin tone and anatomy.

Lauren Piccolino, facility director at A Step Ahead Prosthetics in Burlington, Massachusetts, said: ‘Watching Katarina’s reaction when she saw herself in the mirror for the first time was one of my most beloved and proudest moments working for A Step Ahead Prosthetics.  

Then boyfriend and now husband Andrew Pfeffer proposes to Katarina Floridia in New York

The happy couple wed in an outside ceremony and Katarina was able to wear a beautiful dress for the first time 

Katarina, a congenital bilateral amputee, has dealt with prosthetics her whole life, having been adopted from Moscow, Russia, when she was 18 months old and moving to the United States

‘In that moment, she didn’t see herself any longer as an amputee who was worried about what society thought of her. 

‘She was confident and elegant – I saw for the first time since meeting Katarina as a strong, confident women who was so incredibly proud of who she was and no longer had to hide her limb difference. 

‘Her genuine excitement, gratitude, and disbelief that her skin covers could look so real made this experience at our facility incredibly exceptional. It makes our jobs even more special than they already are.’  

Dancing with her father on her wedding day – she said that he has been in hospital and only came out a day before the wedding 

Katarina putting on her pretty jeweled shoes – her new a Step Ahead Prosthetics, matches her skin color and accommodate heels

Katarina with her new husband after their wedding in June – she says her new legs have given her a new found confidence 

Katarina, showing off her new legs on her wedding day,  hopes that her story will help to inspire others who may be in a similar situation

Katarina says that the important part is to believe in yourself, as she spent 27 years being scared if society would accept her, she finally accepted herself – the day of her wedding as she walked down the aisle

Going forward, Katarina hopes that her story will help to inspire others who may be in a similar situation. 

She added: ‘I hope anyone else in the world that may be trying to hide something that may make them different, whether it is having prosthesis or something else, to know that you are not alone. 

‘The world can be cruel and what I want people to take away from my story is that it is important to be happy, proud of whom they are and accept themselves. 

‘The important part is to believe in yourself, I spent 27 years being scared if society would accept me, but when I finally accepted myself, the day of my wedding and walked down the aisle, I was proud of who I am and was humbled to know that those around me, loved me for who I am.’ 

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