Texas Teen Who Lost Leg to Osteosarcoma Has Big Plans at TCU — Including Helping Children With Cancer

Fort Worth, Texas — At 18, Ava Soliz is beginning a new chapter at Texas Christian University after surviving bone cancer, undergoing an above-the-knee amputation and working her way back to the sports she loves.

Just two years ago, the Texas teenager was facing a future filled with uncertainty after doctors diagnosed her with osteosarcoma, an aggressive form of bone cancer. Today, she is a college freshman studying biomedical sciences, with ambitions of becoming a pediatric oncologist.

Her journey from a high school basketball player struggling with unexplained knee pain to a college student pursuing a career in medicine reflects years of difficult decisions, rehabilitation and determination.

Texas Teen Faced a Life-Changing Decision After Cancer Diagnosis

Soliz first experienced unexplained pain in her left knee while playing high school basketball. What initially appeared to be a physical problem eventually led to a diagnosis of osteosarcoma.

The cancer presented her with a difficult choice. Doctors offered two surgical options: a total knee replacement or an amputation above her left knee.

At first, the prospect of losing her leg was difficult to accept.

“I basically laughed in her face and told her, like, I’m not cutting my leg off. Like, you’re crazy,” Soliz recalled of her initial conversation with her surgeon.

However, further examinations revealed that the cancer had spread beyond the bone into the surrounding tissue. That discovery forced her to reconsider the risks and the treatment options available to her.

At just 16, Soliz ultimately chose amputation because she wanted to reduce the risk of leaving cancerous tissue behind.

“I’m 16 at this point. I have so much life ahead of me, and I would be crazy to risk that future,” she said.

The decision marked a major turning point in her life. Although the surgery changed her physically, she remained determined to pursue her education and find a way back to an active lifestyle.

Rehabilitation Helped Her Learn to Walk Again

Following surgery, Soliz began rehabilitation at TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston. There, she worked to regain her mobility and learned how to walk using a prosthetic leg.

Recovery involved more than adapting to a new way of walking. She also had to navigate the physical and emotional challenges associated with losing a limb while continuing to look ahead to her future.

Her progress was especially meaningful to Dr. Vinay Vanodia, director of limb loss at TIRR Memorial Hermann.

“This has been one of the most rewarding journeys as a physician to see her thrive from her diagnosis of cancer to the whole rehabilitation process, going through physical therapy, learning how to walk again, and now going to college,” Vanodia said.

For Soliz, rehabilitation became an important step toward reclaiming parts of her life that cancer had interrupted.

She Returned to Sports and Earned a State Silver Medal

Despite the challenges of treatment and recovery, Soliz worked toward returning to athletics.

By her senior year of high school, she was back on the golf course and competing in adaptive seated shot put.

Her efforts led to a silver medal at the state championships, marking another milestone in her return to competitive sports.

The achievement came after a particularly difficult period. Soliz had spent her junior year of high school in a hospital bed, yet she continued working toward her academic goals.

She eventually graduated as her school’s salutatorian, demonstrating that her medical challenges had not ended her ambitions in the classroom.

Her return to sports and academic success also helped her build a future beyond the hospital and rehabilitation center.

From Cancer Patient to Future Pediatric Oncologist

Now a freshman at Texas Christian University, Soliz is studying biomedical sciences and hopes to become a pediatric oncologist.

Her career goal is closely connected to her own experience with cancer treatment. The doctors who guided her through the disease made a lasting impression, inspiring her to help children and families facing similar circumstances.

“I want to be able to be the person that my oncologist was to me to other kids,” she said.

Her ambition reflects a desire to turn a difficult personal experience into an opportunity to support others during some of the most challenging moments of their lives.

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Although she is only beginning college, Soliz already has a clear idea of the kind of physician she hopes to become and the difference she wants to make.

Her Message to Others Facing Limb Loss

As Soliz starts college, she hopes her experience encourages others who are dealing with limb loss or adjusting to major changes in their lives. She wants people to understand that losing a limb does not determine what they can achieve or how they should define their future.

“Your life doesn’t depend on how many limbs you do or don’t have. It ultimately depends on what you make of it,” she said.

Her journey has included a cancer diagnosis, a major operation, rehabilitation and the challenge of returning to everyday activities. Along the way, she has also returned to sports, completed high school with outstanding academic results and taken the next step toward her career goals.

What do you think about Ava Soliz’s journey from cancer treatment to college and competitive sports? Share your thoughts and words of encouragement in the comments below.