OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

CAIRN ATKINSON IS A HIP AND LEG AMPUTEE WHO SURVIVED A RARE FORM OF CANCER

BY KAMALA KIRK

In 2018, Cairn Atkinson was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of cancer that would change her life forever.

One night after work, she was getting ready to attend Bible study but was suddenly overcome by a strange feeling that told her to go home instead.

“For the past eight months prior, I had been experiencing severe sciatic pain in my left butt area,” Atkinson says. “When I got home that night, I felt fine so I decided to work out on my yoga trapeze device, which is flipped upside down like a hammock with handles on the sides. I was on it with my feet together like a diamond, then all of a sudden it felt like something flicked my hip and I lost control. I fell right on my back and was in so much pain. The next day I couldn’t walk, so one of my friends drove me to the ER.”

At the hospital, Atkinson learned that she had a large tumor in her hip. The following month she was diagnosed with epitheliod sarcoma: a rare, slowgrowing soft tissue cancer.

“Growing up, I would get tired and sick easily,” Atkinson says. “When I was in high school, I would come home and lie on my bed after school because my back hurt. At concerts, I would get dizzy and had to sit down a lot. Epitheliod sarcoma is a childhood cancer, and I was diagnosed with it when I was 28. Looking back, I always felt compromised and probably should have gone to the doctor sooner, but I was a procrastinator. Now I encourage people to go to the doctor right away just to be safe.”

In December 2018, Atkinson underwent surgery to remove her left hip and leg. After nine days in the hospital, she came home. The process of adjusting to her new normal was challenging, and Atkinson had to relearn how to do everyday things like walking and driving.

“It was a very difficult time for me, but I got through it and things slowly improved,” Atkinson says. “I had lost a lot of weight, and after my surgery I was very weak. I made sure to have things around me that made me comfortable, like my stuffed animals, blanket, diffuser and favorite essential oils. I’m pretty independent, and I can still drive. There are some things that are harder for me to do on my own, like emptying the dumpster bins, but my husband Joseph helps with the things I can’t do. He’s been so supportive, loving and compassionate throughout this whole ordeal.”

After her surgery, Atkinson started wearing more vintage-style dresses and outfits because they were comfortable and easy to put on. She also participates in photoshoots and partners with clothing brands and local businesses like Vintage Treasures and Antiques in Arcadia, regularly posting her latest outfits on her Instagram account (@smooth_hop_erator).

“Growing up, I was a fan of old-fashioned movies and TV shows like ‘I Love Lucy,’” Atkinson says. “I love mimicking the hairstyles and outfits from those days, and I just want to show people that you don’t have to have all your limbs to be beautiful and fashionable. I would love to get more into modeling and acting.”

Atkinson enjoys sharing her vintage outfits and photoshoots on Instagram, and regularly uploads how-to videos on YouTube to inspire others.

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Three months after her procedure, Atkinson decided to return to the workforce and landed a job in quality assurance at Turbo Jet Productions.

“Working and being around other people really kept me going and helped get me out of my depression,” Atkinson says. “It was nothing like the previous work I did before my surgery, which included being a caretaker and working in rehabilitation and nursing homes.”

These days, Atkinson works as a full-time babysitter. In August 2019, she started a YouTube channel (Cairn Atkinson Lean on Me) so she could share videos about her life as an amputee and has amassed more than 2,500 subscribers.

“My YouTube channel consists of lots of different videos that show how I do things as an amputee, from getting dressed and cooking to riding a horse and water rafting for the first time,” Atkinson shares. “I’m not afraid to be in front of a camera, although for a while I was still shy about my new body and only filmed myself from the chest up. What’s been great about having my channel is hearing from people who thank me for helping them because they or someone they know is going through something similar. It’s been wonderful to help people through a scary time.”

In addition to helping Atkinson connect with others, YouTube and social media have also given her a renewed sense of hope.

“I watched a video of a lady who was an amputee that wore a runners clip on her waist which she clipped to her baby stroller, and when I saw that I cried because my husband and I are trying to conceive and I always thought I would be walking with a stroller,” Atkinson says. “After having my surgery, I was sad because I didn’t think I could do that. But seeing her gave me such confidence. After we have a baby, I plan to post videos about how a one-legged person can take care of a child. I want to pay it forward so that others can also have a positive outlook and a good quality of life. At the end of the day, I’m still doing the same things — I’m just doing them differently.”

Atkinson has been cancer free for two years and gets regular scans and checkups to stay on top of her health. She and her husband, who have lived in Pasadena for the past seven years, are planning on starting a family in the near future.

“Going through this has given me more of an appreciation for life,” Atkinson says. “While I can’t control my situation, I can control how I respond to it. Aside from becoming a mother, my other goal is to continue to share my story and put myself out there. I don’t see a lot of hip amputees out there, and I would like to become a public figure so that I can use my platform to help other people and give them encouragement and hope.”

Follow Atkinson on Instagram @smooth_hop_erator.