Story highlights Kellie Lim developed meningococcal disease at 8 years old

She lost circulation in her legs and right arm, forcing surgeons to amputate

Lim graduated high school as valedictorian and finished UCLA medical school with honors

Dr. Kellie Lim received all of her medical training from the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. After getting her medical degree, she completed her internship and residency in pediatrics before pursuing fellowship training in allergy & immunology and pharmacology. Today, she works as an allergist-immunologist at UCLA Health. The opinions in this article are solely those of the author.

(CNN) If you had asked me 20 years ago where I would be, I never would have imagined I would be a physician working at UCLA Health, one of the best medical centers in the country. For over 25 years, my physical disability threatened to define who I was and what others thought I could become.

I grew up in Michigan, in a blue-collar, predominantly Caucasian community with very few ethnic influences. Stereotypes and racism were prevalent, so much so that I was placed in an English as a second language class based solely on my appearance. I actually spoke and understood more English than Chinese.

When I contracted meningococcal disease at 8 years of age, however, my school community rallied and gave their unwavering support to adapt to my new circumstances. The infection overwhelmed my body's defenses, and I became a triple amputee.

Kellie Lim with her mother, brother and sister after surgery to amputate her legs and right arm.

The disease left me with just enough to survive and carry on: two full fingers of the left hand, the thumb and ring finger. Any less would have made it an almost impossible feat to overcome the physical challenges of daily life.

Though my success and perseverance have been attributed to my determination to be independent and pursue my passions, I would never have been so ambitious if my family, friends and teachers did not believe in my abilities.

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