Photo Story: Megan Absten

In high school, young adults are faced with many obstacles to overcome. Megan Absten, a junior at Burlington-Edison High School has it a little harder than the average 17-year-old. When Megan was 14, she got in a four-wheeling accident. “My doctors told me I could have lost my life,” she said. “But luckily, I only lost my arm,” she said with a smirk. Megan received a prosthetic arm soon after the incident though she admits she doesn’t wear it very often. “It’s nice when I go shopping because it can hold my purse,” Absten explains.

Her prosthetic arm is mostly used just as a fill in for what she lost. Though, her and her family are looking into getting a prosthetic arm of higher technology. She explained that there are certain prosthetics that can receive signals from the brain and will actually move. These however, cost close to $100,000. “It is something to look forward to in the future,” Megan said, hoping that one day she might be able to two arms simultaneously once again.

In high school, most teenage girls worry about who their Homecoming date is going to be and what kind of clothing they are going to wear for a particular day at school. Megan worries about these things as well, but there are many more things that she must worry about that the average teenager wouldn’t think twice about. “I watched a ton of youtube videos to learn how to put my hair up,” Absten said. Going from having two arms for 14 years then all of a sudden only being able to use one was a challenge at first. 

Absten’s scars are healing but it is apparent the trauma she went through. When the accident initially happened, she was rushed to Harborview where the attempted to reattach her arm. It was unsuccessful but two years later Absten has acclimated well and she is able to live her daily life.

Before the accident, Megan was a star athlete, even as a freshman. She was determined to continue doing sports though. Right now, she is participating in Track and Field where she does long jump, high jump, and different sprints. In the fall she does cross country and in the winter she does wrestling.

Megan Absten is just like your average high school girl. She straightens her hair and does her makeup. She does sports and is involved with her school. “I have accepted what has happened to me,” she said,” and I will not let something like losing my arm get in the way of what I have planned for my life ahead.”