Run With Torie

Victoria Mugo is a mother, wife, inspiration and avid athlete. Victoria (Torie), born and raised in Nairobi-Kenya, traveled to the United states at the age of 19 to pursue further studies. After graduating with a degree in International Business, she and her husband started their Real Estate and Property Management company. She became a mother at the age of 35 and unfortunately lost her limbs three years later. Her son was only 3. 

In January 2019 Victoria walked into the ER with flu-like symptoms and was diagnosed with Walk-in-pneumonia. The infection had spread rapidly and aggressively in her  lungs herein causing a blood infection – sepsis. She went into septic shock immediately following hospital admission. The intervention to save her life required a medically induced coma, life support, ECMO and dialysis following lung and kidney failure. Unfortunately, the ECMO intervention could only supply oxygenated blood to her vital organs herein compromising her limbs. The doctors gave her a 2% chance of survival. She remained in the medically induced coma for about 4 weeks, at which point her limbs had become necrotic for lack of blood circulation to them. 

Victoria did beat the odds at the immense joy of her family and friends and began the grueling journey into life’s second chance. Her ultimate vision was to run again and-in that journey, stay true to her cherished roles as daughter, sister, mummy, wife and friend. She was discharged from hospital in April 2019. Without insurance coverage for her needs as an amputee, she did not have immediate rehab or physical therapy. You see, Victoria and her husband unfortunately had to put their business on hold after the challenges that came with her hospitalization and with that came loss of income and ultimately their home. 

This did not discourage her. She was grateful for life and with that came purpose. She refused to feel sorry for herself and in the spirit of “Mind over Matter”, exercised herself back to strength at her family’s home following the direction of the hospital rehab she had been receiving. Friends in the medical community referred her to NGO’s that assisted amputees in her situation. Her application to one NGO- The RSVP clinic by Craig Hospital- was successful. This immediately provided her walking prosthetics. However, physical therapy coverage wouldn’t start till later that September 2019. In July 2019, she received her walking prosthetics and her determination to walk could not wait till September. So, she asked a friend to build her a wooden railing in her family’s garage and with that and continued strength exercises she self-taught herself to walk. 

By September 2019, in time for her physical therapy, she had already registered for her first 5K walk by Sepsis Alliance, which she successfully completed with her family and friends and followed on to a 2nd 5K – Ragnar Colorado - before the end of that September. Also, in September 2019 she became a Co-founder of a Sepsis Support Group at The Medical Center of Aurora – where she was hospitalized. The support group is a channel to sepsis survivors and their families. 

During COVID year 2020, she trained her family and communities in the states and abroad to exercise through Zoom. Around March 2021 the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) awarded her running blades. Victoria went on to complete Tough Mudder Colorado (10.5 miles) in July 2021, then her first half marathon in a triathlon as part of a relay team at the San Diego Community Challenge in October 2021, 2nd half marathon -Denver Colfax marathon 2022, Bolder Boulder Colorado 10K 2022, 2nd San Diego Community challenge 2022- 4.5 hours of bike, just to name a few and is looking forward to making more history as an inspiring athlete. 

Victoria also enjoys, Cycling, Golfing, Bowling Cooking with her son, volunteering in amputee communities and mentoring new amputees through her founded Sepsis Support Group. She credits her family and friends and various amputee communities for the incredible support that she continues to receive daily. Faith is what makes Victoria shine because it fuels her purpose. She has become an inspiration to many by publicly and privately displaying her accomplishments to encourage her community that challenges are always opportunities for growth. Her motto being “I am enough because all I have is all I need”