Broken Barbie: Erin’s Journey from Bullying to Amputation and Beyond

Bob Wilkie heard Erin Brown speak at a the Legends Charity Classic in Canmore, Alberta. He knew he wanted to have her on the podcast. Erin is an adaptive athlete and amputee whose story spans childhood bullying, postpartum depression, secondary trauma, and the sudden illness that led to the loss of her leg. Erin recalls growing up in Flin Flon, Manitoba, facing vicious bullying that eroded her confidence and kept her from sports she loved.

She later rebuilt her sense of self working in the mine, moving to Calgary, and eventually becoming a mother—only to be plunged into crisis when her young son nearly died and then, years later, when a minor bike fall spiraled into sepsis and amputation. Erin shares how Rocky Mountain Adaptive, skiing on one leg, deep therapy work, and community helped her rediscover purpose. Her honesty about body image, fear, and resilience offers hope to anyone living with trauma.

Find Erin on Instagram: @brokenbarbie11.

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