Teen chooses leg amputation to fulfill dream to play football

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – A young man is racing toward his future despite a physical setback. He received life-changing care at Shriners Children’s Hospital in Shreveport and is now a patient ambassador inspiring others.

Growing up, Dallas did not realize anything was different about him. He played sports, kept up with all the other kids, and brought positive energy everywhere he went.

“We never looked at Dallas like he was different. All of the kids did everything they wanted to do. We never put limitations on him. We just allowed him to be a kid,” his mom Susan said.

Even though Dallas was born with a clubfoot, that limited his mobility. Surgeries started at 3 years old to help, including an external fixator to elongate his leg.

“It really put me in a dark place. It put my mind on rocks. It had me isolated from everybody else,” Dallas said.

He learned to walk on a cast and stitches but realized something was missing for him that others had – the ability to run at full speed without restraint. Then, when he turned 10, he started to want to play football. His medical journey took him to Shriners Children’s Hospital in Shreveport, where he and his mom, Susan, worked with Dr. Kenneth Powell.

They faced two decisions: continue with an external fixator that brings a lot of pain or receive a full amputation that would be life-altering. So, at the young age of just 14, Dallas chose to have his left leg amputated.

“The only thing I was thinking in my mind was like – am I going to be able to play football?” Dallas said.

He received a running prosthetic while receiving care in Mississippi and never looked back.

“Every since I’ve been on that running leg, I’ve been running up and down the street. I’ve been playing football on it. I’ve been doing a lot. So I really feel like I made a great decision,” Dallas said.

Dallas is now a sophomore linebacker for the varsity high school team of West Bolivar in Rosedale, Mississippi.

“It means a lot because I grew up playing all types of sports and to play a physical sport as a left leg amputee without stopping, it means so much to me. When I’m out there on the field with that running prosthesis I’m already knowing that everyone here is going to be like, yeah we’re going to try and take advantage. Oh he’s not going to be able to do this. Then I come out of nowhere and I’m doing it. It just shocks them and also shocks my teammates because they’ve never anyone like me do anything like this before. It puts a smile on my face and motivates me because at the end of the day I know why I’m doing this and what I’m pushing for,” Dallas said.

He’s living an everyday teenage life at full speed.

“Watching him play. Energetic and running hard. This has been really a lot. A lot in that it’s making me proud. That through all that he’s been through, he’s never given up,” Susan said.

Dallas is a Shriner’s patient ambassador representing players with prosthetics. He was recently invited to meet professionals at the Shrine Bowl in Arlington, Texas.

“Don’t limit your child. Allow your child to say, I want to do something, and help them do whatever it is,” Susan said.

Dallas has a candid expression to help other kids growing up like he did.

“You got to just amputate the word can’t. Cut it from your vocabulary. You may get looked at different, you may get judged, at the end of the day you are doing this for yourself. To better yourself and become a better version of yourself. Don’t ever doubt yourself,” he said.

Dallas said his favorite football team in the NFL is the Dallas Cowboys. His favorite college team is the LSU Tigers.

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