Teresa’s Journey with Levitate & the Heather Abbott Foundation
Life changed instantly for Teresa Barkley on March 27, 2021. An active mother and 6th-grade teacher, she loved sprint triathlons, skiing, and adventure racing. Until an accident at a hair salon left her pinned by a car, causing severe leg injuries. After five surgeries over four years, she chose a below-the-knee amputation to escape chronic pain.
Determined to regain her mobility, Teresa faced a tough road—ill-fitting prosthetics and setbacks. But finding the right prosthetist, Scott Williams, and undergoing revision surgery made all the difference. Then came a game-changer: the Levitate Running Blade.
“The Levitate blade has transformed my daily life,” she says. “I wear it as my everyday foot—it’s lightweight, supportive, and lets me move freely.” Now, she’s back to running, logging 30-minute sessions on an Alter G treadmill pain-free.
The Heather Abbott Foundation played a key role in her journey, helping her access the prosthesis she needed. Their support, along with our technology, allowed Teresa to reclaim her active life. She recently took her first beach trip post-amputation, wearing her Levitate blade in the ocean for the first time—an experience she calls “incredibly freeing.”
And she’s not stopping there. Next up? Pickleball and skydiving. “Nothing can stop me now,” Teresa says.
Her story is a powerful reminder, that the right tools can change everything.
