Haven Shepherd’s life story is an inspiration to many – going from surviving a suicide bombing to swimming in the Tokyo Paralympics.
As reported by BBC, born Do Thi Thuy Phuong, Quang Nam province, Vietnam on 10 March 2003. Haven was the product of an affair between her married father and another woman. Due to societal rejection and financial issues, her biological mother and father decided to kill themselves and Haven, by suicide bombing. Both parents were killed instantly.
But Haven survived; she was found 40 feet from their burning home with severe damage to both of her legs.
Villagers took her to the hospital in Da Nang, where doctors saved her life but could not save her legs.
“I survived something so dramatic – I wasn’t supposed to live,” Haven says.
At the same time, across the world in Carthage, Missouri, USA, Rob and Shelly Shepherd were deciding to adopt a child.
Shelly’s friend had started a foundation in Vietnam and they were opening a shelter for children with disabilities. The friend heard about Haven and told the Shepherds about her.
“I was like, we have so much going on. We’d need a kid with feet, they’ve got to keep up,” Shelly said. “And then when I met her, you know, she’s just so joyful…and I realized, it’s just feet, we can do this, we can bring her into the family.”
At just 20 months old, Haven flew home with the Shepherds.
A surgeon at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City looked at Haven’s wounds.
“[The surgeon] was just like, ‘I’m just amazed.’ He said, ‘Her amputations are beautiful. We couldn’t have done any better here in our hospital.’ And so that was a huge blessing,” Shelly said.
Haven’s six older siblings were all athletes and Haven wanted to follow in their footsteps.
First, she tried running track, but didn’t like it.
“Turns out I really don’t like the heat and I don’t like to sweat,” Haven said. “I just remember telling my mom, I was like, ‘I’m done. I don’t want to do this.’ I quit at the prime age of eight years old.”
Haven had been swimming since she was four years old, and decided at age nine, to begin swimming competitively.
Swimming also had another benefit — she could take off her prosthetic legs for a few hours.
“Not a lot of people realize that wearing prosthetic legs all day is really tiring,” Haven said. “And when I get to take my legs off in the middle of the day for like two or three hours, that was like bliss to me.”
At age 13, Haven set a goal of making it to the Paralympics one day.
“She never really wavered from her decision,” Shelly said. “And it’s a grueling schedule. I never really had to say, ‘yes, you have to go to practice.’ She never really questioned it.”
When Haven was 16, she won a silver medal at the 2019 Parapan American Games in Lima, Peru.
In June 2021, she competed in the 2020 U.S. Paralympic Team Trials in Minneapolis, Minnesota, earning her a spot on Team USA.
“It was just such a long process and [it] didn’t really hit me until I got home,” Haven said. “I knew how excited I was, but it didn’t really hit me because you’re just so so stressed for that whole time and then it happened. So you have the relief, and then you’re exhausted.”
After years of training — including an extra year because of the pandemic — Haven said she feels ready to achieve her goal of competing at the Paralympics.
For her mom, it’s a reflection of just how hard Haven has worked to overcome the obstacles thrown at her.
“When I think about where she came from, the little amputee, just orphaned girl that we picked up, to how much life she has lived in 18 years — that’s such a miracle,” Shelly said.
Haven does not dwell on her past.
“I don’t look at the things that I’ve lost,” Haven said. “I mean, I’ve lost so much in my life. I’ve lost my legs, but I’ve never let that hold me back.”
The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games begin August 24 – September 5.
Haven will swim in the 200-meter individual medley on August 28 and the 100-meter breaststroke on September 1.
