Vanessa Richardson

Well, regardless of whether Oscar noticed his differences that young, he never let them stand in his way. And that mostly came at the encouragement of his mother, Sheila. She made sure Oscar was treated exactly like his two other siblings, insisting there was no such thing as disability in their house.

Well, regardless of whether Oscar noticed his differences that young, he never let them stand in his way. And that mostly came at the encouragement of his mother, Sheila. She made sure Oscar was treated exactly like his two other siblings, insisting there was no such thing as disability in their house.

As she told the kids each morning, quote, "'Carl, you put on your shoes, and Oscar, you go put on your legs.'" It was that sort of thing that made Oscar push himself beyond his limits, and soon he wasn't just exceeding expectations around the home, he was changing the minds of his peers, too.

As she told the kids each morning, quote, "'Carl, you put on your shoes, and Oscar, you go put on your legs.'" It was that sort of thing that made Oscar push himself beyond his limits, and soon he wasn't just exceeding expectations around the home, he was changing the minds of his peers, too.

As she told the kids each morning, quote, "'Carl, you put on your shoes, and Oscar, you go put on your legs.'" It was that sort of thing that made Oscar push himself beyond his limits, and soon he wasn't just exceeding expectations around the home, he was changing the minds of his peers, too.

By his teens, Oscar had transitioned to a pair of lighter prosthetics, and for the first time in his life, sports became a possibility. Always eager to outperform, Oscar joined the water polo team and the rugby team, and he gained a newfound confidence because of it. But this new high Oscar was riding? Well, it was about to be usurped by a series of unexpected events.

By his teens, Oscar had transitioned to a pair of lighter prosthetics, and for the first time in his life, sports became a possibility. Always eager to outperform, Oscar joined the water polo team and the rugby team, and he gained a newfound confidence because of it. But this new high Oscar was riding? Well, it was about to be usurped by a series of unexpected events.

By his teens, Oscar had transitioned to a pair of lighter prosthetics, and for the first time in his life, sports became a possibility. Always eager to outperform, Oscar joined the water polo team and the rugby team, and he gained a newfound confidence because of it. But this new high Oscar was riding? Well, it was about to be usurped by a series of unexpected events.

By 2002, when Oscar was 15, things had already been challenging for the Pistorius family. Sheila and Hank had divorced a few years prior, forcing the three kids and Sheila into a smaller house. In his father's absence, Oscar distracted himself with sports, but things at home took a turn for the worse when Sheila was diagnosed with hepatitis.

By 2002, when Oscar was 15, things had already been challenging for the Pistorius family. Sheila and Hank had divorced a few years prior, forcing the three kids and Sheila into a smaller house. In his father's absence, Oscar distracted himself with sports, but things at home took a turn for the worse when Sheila was diagnosed with hepatitis.

By 2002, when Oscar was 15, things had already been challenging for the Pistorius family. Sheila and Hank had divorced a few years prior, forcing the three kids and Sheila into a smaller house. In his father's absence, Oscar distracted himself with sports, but things at home took a turn for the worse when Sheila was diagnosed with hepatitis.

Doctors tried to treat her condition, but she reacted adversely to the medication, and doctors later found they had misdiagnosed her hepatitis altogether. By that point, though, it was too late. The wrong medication had done too much damage. Only weeks after first falling ill, Sheila passed away on March 6th, 2002. Oscar seemed to take it the hardest.

Doctors tried to treat her condition, but she reacted adversely to the medication, and doctors later found they had misdiagnosed her hepatitis altogether. By that point, though, it was too late. The wrong medication had done too much damage. Only weeks after first falling ill, Sheila passed away on March 6th, 2002. Oscar seemed to take it the hardest.

Doctors tried to treat her condition, but she reacted adversely to the medication, and doctors later found they had misdiagnosed her hepatitis altogether. By that point, though, it was too late. The wrong medication had done too much damage. Only weeks after first falling ill, Sheila passed away on March 6th, 2002. Oscar seemed to take it the hardest.

To drown out the pain, Oscar buried himself deeper in sports, but he pushed himself a little too far. The following year, in 2003, Oscar injured his knee while playing rugby, which meant Oscar's one escape had been taken from him. And suddenly, he felt as though he was left with nothing.

To drown out the pain, Oscar buried himself deeper in sports, but he pushed himself a little too far. The following year, in 2003, Oscar injured his knee while playing rugby, which meant Oscar's one escape had been taken from him. And suddenly, he felt as though he was left with nothing.

To drown out the pain, Oscar buried himself deeper in sports, but he pushed himself a little too far. The following year, in 2003, Oscar injured his knee while playing rugby, which meant Oscar's one escape had been taken from him. And suddenly, he felt as though he was left with nothing.

Well, ultimately, Oscar realized his injury was actually a blessing in disguise. During his recovery, Oscar found himself in the hands of the same doctors who'd helped him 16 years earlier when he first got his amputation surgery. Only this time, during his physical therapy, one of them proposed something to Oscar, something that would change his life as he knew it.

Well, ultimately, Oscar realized his injury was actually a blessing in disguise. During his recovery, Oscar found himself in the hands of the same doctors who'd helped him 16 years earlier when he first got his amputation surgery. Only this time, during his physical therapy, one of them proposed something to Oscar, something that would change his life as he knew it.

Well, ultimately, Oscar realized his injury was actually a blessing in disguise. During his recovery, Oscar found himself in the hands of the same doctors who'd helped him 16 years earlier when he first got his amputation surgery. Only this time, during his physical therapy, one of them proposed something to Oscar, something that would change his life as he knew it.