A double amputee whose prosthetic legs are held together with duct tape and glue is raising almost $30,000 for a new pair - so she can dance on her wedding day.

Lexie Bader, 28, a truck driver and international runway model from Lakewood, Colorado, is determined to find a way to stay mobile.

After a snowboarding accident in 2012 left her with severe injuries, Lexie underwent multiple surgeries in hopes of regaining mobility.

But in 2019, she was diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a rare nerve disease caused by the surgeries which restricted blood flow and prevented healing, she said.

Facing a lifetime of chronic pain, she made the difficult decision to have her left leg amputated in 2019, and her right leg in 2021.

She received her current prosthetic legs three years ago, calling them "the best ones I've ever gotten." "

They allowed her to pursue her dream job as a truck driver while still engaging in her passion for extreme sports.

However, prosthetic legs require regular updates, especially for someone as active as Lexie.

And her insurance won't cover a new pair.

"Most amputees, especially ones that are active, get a new pair of legs every year or two," she said."

"I've been trying to get a new pair for over a year now, but it's been a nightmare dealing with insurance and finding a provider who can make a good fit. "

"I received a new pair five or six months ago, but they made me feel unstable and caused me a lot of pain. "

"Now, I'm stuck with my three-year-old legs, held together with duct tape and glue."

In 2012, Lexie's snowboard slipped and she slid down a hill before slamming into a tree.

"My helmet broke, I got a bloody nose and I shattered my ankle," she recalled, noting the accident prompted "around 10 or 12 major surgeries and around 35 or 40 overall."

Speaking of her decision to have her legs amputated, she added: "When I lost my second leg, my disease had spread to my other leg during COVID, and I didn't want to deal with any of that crap anymore," Lexie said."

"I was snowboarding, rock climbing, wakeboarding — I was doing everything I ever dreamed of doing. Nothing was stopping me."

She described the daily struggles she faces due to outdated and ill-fitting prosthetics.

"I work 60 hours a week truck driving, jumping up and down my trailer. I come home with my legs swollen and bruised, limping from the pain. "

"It's stopping me from doing my best at work and from doing what I love —snowboarding, rock climbing, wakeboarding. "

"I haven't been able to snowboard this season, which is heartbreaking."

The issue isn't just about sports and recreation; it affects her everyday life.

"I live across from a grocery store, but I'd rather drive than walk because my legs hurt too much. I can't go on hikes or long walks. "

"Even at the gym, I can barely last 30 minutes before I'm in constant pain."

Lexie has launched a GoFundMe to raise money for a new pair of prosthetic legs, along with feet.

"For some reason, even though I'm only 100 pounds, the company told me they won't cover my feet anymore because I break them too much. It's nonsense," she said. "

"I just want to be able to do my job to the best of my ability and live my life without limitations."

"My doctor said the total cost for everything would be $28,419," she added. "With Medicaid, it's a little bit of a discount."

"I'm hoping foundations reach out to me to help fund a new pair of legs with grants. I know that's out there."

Still, Lexie remains hopeful. In September, she plans to marry her fiancé, Zach Heyne, 27, a project engineer.

"I want to dance my heart out on my wedding day. I don't want my legs to define me or stop me from living my life. "

"I want to go on hikes, go camping without complaining, and snowboard again instead of just sitting in the lodge watching everyone else."

"Being an amputee has been pretty awesome for me overall," she added. "But right now, I just need the right tools to keep moving forward."

www.gofundme.com/f/lexies-painful-journey-new-legs-needed