TERRE HAUTE —
At age 33, Chad Crittenden learned he had synovial sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that quickly metastasizes to the lungs.
The tumor had formed on the ball of his right foot, and he ended up having his right leg amputated below the knee.
While it temporarily slowed him down, it didn’t stop him from continuing an active lifestyle and the sports that he loved, including triathlons and snowboarding.
Nor did it stop him from becoming a contestant, and the first amputee, on the popular CBS reality series “Survivor.” He participated in the 2004 season called “Survivor: Vanuatu.”
While he didn’t win the TV show’s top prize, he inspired millions of viewers.
Crittenden, now 41, spoke to about 40 students and staff at Ivy Tech Community College on Wednesday as part of Disabilities Awareness Month.
“I was on the crazy show ‘Survivor’,” he said. At first, other contestants didn’t know he had a disability. Crittenden wore long, tear-away pants that hid the fact he was an amputee.
In the first few days, he hiked with the others over rugged terrain and then helped build a campsite from scratch. He wanted to break their preconceived notions about what an amputee could do, he said.
When he finally revealed his prosthesis to other tribe members, they were supportive and it became a non-issue, although there was one who lobbied behind Crittenden’s back to have him kicked off early. That person viewed him as a weak link, he said.
Crittenden was able to do whatever was required for the show, although some things were more difficult and took more time because of his disability, he said.
“It was very, very difficult. You’re deprived of food. You’re deprived of water at first. Sleep. Comfort,” he said after his presentation. “All these things are not insurmountable, but they are difficult.”
Some people drop out of “Survivor” from time to time because they just can’t take it, he said.
Participating in “Survivor” was one of his dreams, and he’s glad he had the opportunity. “There was a lot of time to contemplate things,” he said, recalling a prolonged period without family or technology.
After the series ended that season, many opportunities opened for him and he became a spokesperson “for what people with disabilities are capable of,” he said. He became involved with such organizations as Challenged Athletes Foundation, Adaptive Action Sports and Stumps R Us.
Now, he gives motivational talks and remains involved with support groups for those with disabilities.
Through his own experiences, he became aware of some of the stereotypes and preconceived notions faced by those who have physical challenges.
He told his audience he was surprised to learn that the Americans with Disabilities Act was not passed until 1990. It made him aware that “disabled folks, in general, are very much on the fringe.”
Crittenden said one of his goals is to inspire others, just as he looked for inspiration when he dealt with cancer and the loss of his foot.
He says what he has faced is not the same as someone who has suffered traumatic injury in a war zone. “Not everyone can jump into a triathlon,” he said. But he still hopes to encourage amputees — and others with disabilities — to find out what their capabilities are and to maximize them.
Ivy Tech’s Campus Activities Board sponsored Crittenden’s visit. Nina Storey, Ivy Tech’s director of student life, said she hopes students who heard his talk “can celebrate their differences and recognize that having a disability doesn’t necessarily need to hold them back. They can still accomplish a lot. I thought Chad was very inspirational in how he stayed active in the things he liked.”
Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Related Photos
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Encouragement: Chad Crittenden, who lost his right lower leg to cancer but still made the TV reality show “Survivor,” brought his message of “what people with disabilities are capable of” to Ivy Tech Community College on Wednesday. Ivy Tech photo
Discussion
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