Jemma’s Journey – A 13-year-old’s story of grit and grace

For 13-year-old Jemma, sports have never been just a hobby, they’ve been a way of life. From softball diamonds to track fields, swimming pools to long jump pits, she’s been collecting experiences since she was a toddler. Jemma started playing softball at just 3 years old, following in the footsteps of her older brother, Taven, who first played baseball before switching to wrestling.

Now in seventh grade, she pitches left-handed for Tuttle’s junior varsity team. She recently got the chance to pitch against Newcastle, and though most of her games are just a few innings at the JV level, she plays with a varsity mindset.

Born with tibial hemimelia, Jemma has had a prosthetic leg since infancy and has broken multiple prosthetics over the years, including three full legs and at least six carbon-fiber running blades. Once, she even broke a leg at the ball joint mid game, forcing her mom to carry her to the dugout and strap on a backup. Those moments, though difficult, have never slowed her down for long. Her time on the field has been full of unforgettable moments.

Jemma has consistently shown that she never loses sight of the game. September 15 was one of the more recent examples. While playing in Moore, Jemma’s prosthetic leg snapped while running the bases. When Jemma noticed the ball was still live, she hustled back to second base, sending her whole team into fits of laughter.

“Everybody was laughing until they were crying,” her mom Tamara recalled.

Another memory goes back to her T-ball days. After sliding into a base and coming up short, she simply took off her prosthetic leg and stretched it forward to touch the bag. It was a moment that captured both her humor and her creativity, and showed she would always find a way to compete. emma has competed for years at the Endeavor Games in Edmond, hosted by the University of Central Oklahoma.

These Paralympic-style competitions allow athletes with limb differences to begin tracking scores at a young age. Jemma has taken part in swimming, track, and long jump, and today she holds the world record in long jump for her age and category.

That achievement was made possible in part by the Never Say Never Foundation, a Florida nonprofit that provides running blades to kids who need them. With their support, Jemma has stayed active, and she now helps pay it forward.

At the group’s camps, she encourages younger kids, sharing her story and reminding them to believe in themselves.

“She’s gotten to the age where she’s more of a role model,” her mom said. Outside of athletics, Jemma keeps herself just as busy. She’s a straight-A student, part of her school’s student council, and involved in her church youth group at Tuttle Christian Church.

Through every experience, whether they be funny, painful, triumphant, or routine, Jemma has shown that she’s more than a player. She’s an athlete, a role model, and a leader in the making.