Nationwide — Natalya Manhertz, a 20-year-old African American woman from Atlanta, Georgia, lost both her arms and legs to a severe strep infection at 17. After years of treatment and rehabilitation, she has begun walking again with prosthetic legs, slowly regaining independence.
Before the infection, walking was effortless for Natalya. She moved freely through school halls, played tennis, and ran errands without thinking. The infection, however, caused organ failure. Doctors at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta performed amputations on all four limbs to save her life.
Recovery started in the intensive care unit and moved into rehab, where progress was slow. Natalya spent eight months just learning to sit up. Standing and walking required immense strength, balance, and careful guidance from her medical team.
“For it to be like difficult do it is frustrating because I am very independent,” she told 11Alive. “I remember in the hospital I was stiff, I could not get up. It took me 8 months to sit up.”
Her physical therapist, Debbie Bridgeman, explained the unique challenges of working with four amputations. “We are working with 4 amputations and that makes a huge difference in making sure she knows where her body is in space. She is relying on an extreme amount of cores strength,” Bridgeman said.
Therapy focuses on small, step-by-step improvements, from sitting at the edge of the mat to moving with forearm crutches. Despite the challenges, Natalya celebrates each milestone. Standing on her prosthetic legs for the first time felt freeing.
“I didn’t feel short. It felt good to look up and smell the air above,” Natalya said. “I felt a little bit normal. Like this is where I’m supposed to be.”
Daily tasks remain a challenge. Eating, dressing, and even wiping tears are harder than before, and full independence is still a goal. But support from family, friends, and faith keeps her motivated.
“It’s not ok to just give up. You have to think about the positive. You are still alive and here today, and even though life might suck ass, you’ll get through it,” she said.