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NFL Star Kendrick Norton Shares How He Cleans His Amputated Arm to Inspire Others

You may have caught the news of Kendrick Norton’s life-changing injury. 

On July 4 the Miami Dolphins NFL player was driving on the Dolphin Expressway in Miami when his pick-up struck a concrete barrier and flipped on its roof, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports. Norton’s left arm had to be amputated at the scene for him to be freed from the vehicle. The horrific crash effectively ended the defensive tackle’s young career.

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But this is not a bad news story. The NFL and the Miami Dolphins agreed to cover Norton’s medical costs, and a GoFundMe page has already raised $23,000 to help the 22-year-old get back on his feet.

Now a video has emerged on YouTube of Norton cleaning his unbandaged wound in his bathroom and, no lie, it’s probably the most inspirational thing you’ll see this week.

Introducing Lil Ken

The video is remarkable for the tenderness with which Norton and his girlfriend Kira approach the task of cleaning his injury and explaining the process to viewers, but even better for the wisdom and sense of perspective with which the former footballer talks about his experiences. There’s no denial here — just a determination to get on with life.

“I’m just trying to handle it the best I can,” Norton says in the video. “Don’t be down about it because that’s not going to fix anything. Ain’t no point in crying every day and being sad and stuff. Still got stuff to be done, still young, still alive.”

Kira acts as interviewer throughout the video and at one point says what we’re all thinking. “If it was me, I think I would be hurt. I would be down. I would probably be crying every day. How’s it been, staying so strong at just [age] 22?”

“That’s one I don’t really have an answer for,” he says. “It’s not that hard for me to stay strong … I can pretty much motivate myself to get up and get around. Not cry and stuff, so I’m good.”

In a touching moment, Kira says how they’ve given the amputated arm a nickname — Lil Ken. “Big Ken is him and Lil Ken is his arm,” Kira says before asking, “What’s changed about your daily life?”

“The biggest thing is stuff takes a little longer because you don’t have both arms,” he says. “I have to take the extra step to do something. That’s the most aggravating part.

“I always knew this was for real. But I stopped being mad about it after we had our talk — me and you — where you said, ‘We’re still alive.’” he says.

“Don’t worry about me too much. I’m OK,” he tells fans.

A Message for His Young Fans

Perhaps the most inspiring part of the video is when Kira asks what Norton wants to tell fellow amputees who have been following his progress — particularly young people who have perhaps suffered their own amputation.

“Don’t let what people say determine how you feel about yourself,” he says. “I know it’s probably harder for little kids because kids are cruel and make fun of other kids … but don’t let nobody determine how you feel about yourself. That’s a word to the wise for everybody.”

Indeed.

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Matt Shea, Khareem Sudlow