A mother has opened up about how her life has changed for the better after she begged doctors to remove her cancer-stricken leg, revealing she is now an amputee model and an endurance athlete who competes in grueling mud races on crutches.

Kristy Wimberly, 33, from St Louis, Missouri, was just six years old when she was diagnosed with astrocytoma, a rare spinal cord tumor that stunted the growth of her right leg. After more than two decades of suffering, she had the leg removed in 2017 — and her only regret is that she didn't do it sooner.

'My confidence has completely changed and now I'm proud enough of myself and who I am to be signed as a model,' she told The Sun. 'I was completely ashamed of who I was and how my leg hindered my life mentally and physically but now I am free of it and so happy.'

Amazing: Kristy Wimberly, 33, from St Louis, Missouri, competes in Tough Mudder endurance races on crutches after having her cancer-stricken right leg amputated two years ago

Rising star: Kristy (center) is now an amputee model, and she recently walked the runaway in Las Vegas as part of a body inclusive fashion show

'I try to show that just because you have one leg, it doesn’t stop you from living and loving life,' she added. 'The only thing I wish is that I wish I would have done it sooner.'

When Kristy was a child, the nerves connecting her spinal cord to her leg were damaged during surgeries to remove the tumor. They were further compromised when she had to have titanium rods inserted in her back to treat scoliosis.

The damage to Kristy's nerves meant the growth of her right leg was stunted, leaving it a full two inches shorter than the other and unable to walk without a brace.

The executive assistant, who had undergone 19 surgeries to try and lengthen her leg, was called a 'cripple' by school classmates. She became obsessed with concealing her disability and never wore shorts or dresses, even in the summer.

Looking back: Kristy was as six years old when she was diagnosed with astrocytoma, a rare spinal cord tumor that stunted the growth of her right leg and left her relying on crutches

Difficult: Kristy had 19 surgeries to try and lengthen her leg, which was two inches shorter than the other

Decision: After more than two decades of suffering, she had the leg removed in 2017, and her only regret is that she didn't do it sooner

'Having my leg was a dead weight that only caused issues like infections and extreme difficulty walking, it was awful,' she recalled.

'I grew up in the hospital having surgery after surgery. I didn’t fit in well with kids because of it and always felt like an outcast.'

Kristy's whole life was changed when she had her leg amputated in July 2017, a decision that she was led to believe was too drastic.

Before becoming an amputee, she couldn't even walk without a full-length leg brace and never worked out.

All smiles: There was a massive shift in her confidence after she was fitted with a bionic knee, which is controlled by the weight and movement of her upper leg

Tough: Without her leg hindering her, she started hitting the gym just two weeks after her surgery and hasn't stopped since

There was a massive shift in her confidence after she was fitted with a bionic knee, which is controlled by the weight and movement of her upper leg.

Her micro-processing knee can also be operated by her smart-phone and can be switched into different modes for activities such as running and tennis.

Without her leg hindering her, she started hitting the gym and is now an ambassador for Tough Mudder, an endurance race that involved contestants trudging through obstacles in mud and water.

The mom does the 5Ks and obstacle courses on crutches when she can't use her leg, and she is learning how to run using a running blade.

Active: Kristy uses crutches when she can't use her bionic leg, and she is learning to run using a running blade

Best decision: With the support of her husband, Don Wimberly, 31, and their six-year-old daughter, Eva, she is doing things she never thought possible

'Two weeks after I electively had the leg removed was the first time I stepped foot into a gym and I haven't stopped since,' she told The Sun.

With the support of her husband, Don Wimberly, 31, and their six-year-old daughter, Eva, Kristy has also become an amputee model and doing things she never thought possible.

'I’ve been in a Target commercial; I’ve walked a runway show in Las Vegas and did a professional photoshoot in the Vegas desert,' she said.

'I’ve done a satellite media tour in Times Square and a fashion model photoshoot in New York. I’ve auditioned for TV shows and casting calls. I would have never done any of these things prior to two years ago.'