Dogged Determination: 85% Spinal Fusion Can't Stop Heather Laptalo From Running

Grow the Good · Aug 17, 2018 · 51m

Heather Laptalo has four rods in her back that currently fuse 85% of her spine and is classified as 20% disabled. She is missing 40% of her lung capacity. Despite doctors telling her that her athlete days are over, she has hiked Everest Base Camp, ran multiple marathons including Boston, and went to university on a full ride cross-country running scholarship. Can't is not in her vocabulary.

By the time Heather was 10 years old, she was forced to sleep in a heavy metal brace. It was a cage she couldn't escape without the help of her parents. During the day, she ran free as a "normal" little…