We often hear stories of tragedy, but less often do we hear about the conscious, courageous choices people make to reclaim their lives from one. The story of actor Ruth Codd, known for her work in “The Midnight Club” and “The Celebrity Traitors,” is a powerful example of the latter. In a recent update to her followers, Codd shared that she has had her second leg amputated, a decision that marks the latest step in her long journey toward living life on her own terms.
Codd’s path has been shaped by an injury she sustained as a teenager playing soccer—an irony she has pointed out, given that it was a sport she never loved. What seemed like a minor accident spiraled into an eight-year ordeal of surgeries, nerve damage, and chronic pain. Her life became a cycle of hospitals and crutches, a reality far removed from the typical experiences of a young person. The decision to amputate her first leg at 23 was, as she describes it, a turning point that allowed her to finally “get on” with her life.
@ruthcoddsnotdead No legs who dis? #paralympics2026
The recent amputation of her second leg was made for a similar reason: to enhance her quality of life. She explained that the way she used crutches for years had damaged her remaining foot beyond repair. This was not a decision made from a place of defeat, but from one of proactive choice. It was about trading a future of certain pain and limitation for the possibility of greater mobility and independence with two prosthetic limbs.
Codd’s openness provides a vital perspective on navigating life with a disability. She has pushed back against the pressure to perform constant positivity, acknowledging the anger and frustration that accompanied her years of suffering. Her honesty dismantles the idea that resilience is about smiling through pain; instead, she shows it is about making tough, clear-eyed decisions to build a better future for oneself.
Ruth Codd’s story is not one of victimhood, but of agency. By sharing her journey with such transparency, she challenges our perceptions of strength and recovery. She reminds us that sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is let go of what holds you back, even if it’s a part of yourself, to grasp a fuller, more liberated life with both hands.
