Peggy Accepts No Limits

Peggy’s family was told she would never walk, but thanks to orthopedic care at Shriners Children’s, she is participating in a life she loves.

Peggy was born with diplegic cerebral palsy, which affected her ability to move and maintain balance. At the time of her diagnosis, her parents were told that she would never walk. Her parents started taking her to Shriners Children’s Chicago when she was just 2 years old, and doctors began working to help her gain more mobility. Shriners Children's specializes in treating orthopedic issues related to cerebral palsy and helping children achieve their hopes and goals, whatever their condition. The biggest issue was that her legs did not face forward like typical children. Peter Smith, M.D., her pediatric orthopedic surgeon, remembers how her hips were turned very far in, and she had to move with both feet turned in.

Peggy’s condition required years of doctor appointments and multiple surgeries, including a procedure where Dr. Smith turned her hips around. She also received extensive physical therapy. When she was 12, with the help of a walker, she mastered independent mobility. But her goals went much further than just walking by herself. Her dream was always to be in the military, and after high school she enlisted. However, the Army disqualified Peggy because of her condition. Dr. Smith wrote a letter to the military recommending that they let her join.

“For him to show that kind of confidence in me, especially in that moment when everyone around me was doubting my ability, was just incredible," Peggy said. “I stayed at the Military Entrance Processing Station for two days and went through extensive medical testing, but they did eventually let me in. And I proved everyone who was doubting me wrong.”

Twenty years later, Peggy retired as a sergeant first class from the Army and is continuing to shine through her determination to prove those wrong who doubted her. She has continued to work on her running and even ran a leg of a marathon. Her confidence continues to radiate.

She was one of the speakers at the 2024 Chicago Hospital Leadership Conference that was held at Shriners Children’s Chicago. Peggy spoke to members of Shriners International, the fraternity that founded and supports Shriners Children's, about her time in active duty, including being deployed twice while living in cities around the world, and her duties as a human resource specialist in the field.

Prior to speaking at the Leadership Conference, Peggy was also featured on Fox 32 Chicago, where she spoke about her determination to achieve her goal to join the military, and how Shriners Children’s Chicago and Dr. Smith helped her succeed in her military career and life.