RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - Rancho Cordova resident, Chloe Maples, 13, is a pretty special young lady. She was chosen as one of 22 patient ambassadors throughout the country to represent Shriners Hospital at a PGA Golf Tour tournament, where she would be a standard bearer, carrying the scores of professional golfers as they compete in the tournament. It is a rare “inside the ropes” opportunity at a PGA Tour event, as well as the chance to share how Shriners Hospitals has helped transform Chloe’s life.

Born without a fibula in her left leg, Chloe’s foot was amputated when she was one year old.  She then spent three months in a body cast to help correct an undeveloped hip. A few weeks after her cast was removed, Chloe was fitted for her first prosthesis.  The prosthetic team at the Northern California Shriners Hospital has designed several new legs for Chloe over the years, each one thoughtfully crafted to suit Chloe’s active lifestyle — including her passion for dance. A junior high student from Rancho Cordova, during the school day Chloe is focused on her studies, which she hopes will lead one day to a college degree and a career as a Marine Biologist.  In her free time, she enjoys the company of friends and performing with a contemporary and jazz dance group.

Late last year, Chloe traveled to Las Vegas and was on the big stage walking with the pros at the PGA Golf Tour to represent Shriners Hospital for Children.

“I thought it was incredible because I was in Las Vegas to be in a golf tournament for free. It was an honor to walk among the other ambassadors and to get to know them and to get to know the golfers,” said Chloe.

After the final putt, Chloe stood in the winner’s circle with the tournament champion, Shriners leaders, and kids from other Shriners Hospitals for Children.

“Shriners let us know that the care will move forward when she’s in college. And it’s a huge blessing that they will still help her out,” said Chloe’s mother, Mary Maples. “We are incredibly grateful to Shriner. The care that they provided has been top notch. They are just incredible.”

As part of her participation in the tournament, Chloe’s story and photo appeared in the tournament program, and her information was shared with the Golf Channel, which televised the tournament nationally. The broadcast reached over 700 million homes across 240 countries worldwide.