Former U.S. Army Sergeant Christy Gardner of Lewiston is honored as a “Hero Among Us” at the Feb. 5 Celtics game in Boston. In 2006, Gardner was injured in the line of duty, which doctors said would leave her severely handicapped. Determined to prove them wrong, she devoted five years to rehabilitation, allowing her to earn a spot on the National Women’s Sled Hockey Team. Named “Disabled Hockey Athlete of the Year” in 2012, Gardner recently made the difficult decision to voluntarily amputate both legs after seeing how much more disabled vets could do using prosthetics. Incredibly, last fall, Gardner ran her first 5k, finishing the race in just 41 minutes. The Heroes Among Us program recognizes outstanding individuals who have made exceptional and lasting contributions to their communities. Gardner is pictured with, from left, Isaiah Thomas of the Boston Celtics, Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers and DeAndre Jordan of the Los Angeles Lakers.
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