FULTON, Ill. Selfies fill Josh Hills Facebook page. Like viral memes, the images are all alike: Men and women wearing Uphill Battle T-shirts or sweatshirts bend their left legs behind them.

The pose and the clothing show solidarity for the 22-year-old who no longer has a lower left leg to raise.

The change from normal young adult to amputee came quickly for Hill. And yet, it didnt. Hill had experienced pain for about a year before doctors decided he might have a serious problem.

Most of my life I was a competitive swimmer, Hill said Tuesday during a workout at KT3 Fitness in Fulton. Swimming since the age of 7, Hill competed for Clinton High School and for Western Illinois University.

In 2012, Hill learned CPR to become a lifeguard and swim instructor for YWCA in Clinton. Two months later, the 15-year-old saved his fathers life when he found the elder Hill having a heart attack in the family home, called 911 and performed CPR until emergency personnel arrived.

Hill attended college with an eye to becoming a firefighter, earning a degree in fire science from WIU. After graduation, Hill became a property storm adjuster for Farm Bureau.

Though he stopped swimming, Hill worked out regularly. Working out is basically my life, he said. So when he felt pain in his heel about a year and a half ago, his doctor assumed he had tendonitis.

In reality, a cancerous tumor was pressing on Hills Achilles tendon.

Months passed. I started getting a lot of pain in my knee, said Hill. It affected his workouts.

This time, doctors performed a biopsy and found 19 tumors. Basically the cancer had crawled all the way up my left leg, said Hill.

[Its] a really, really rare form of cancer, Hill said, affecting only about 50 people worldwide. Its a blood vessel cancer, but it was in my bone.

Hills doctor didnt have much information about the cancer and wasnt sure it would respond to chemotherapy or radiation. The doctor recommended amputating Hills leg above the knee.

Hill sought a second opinion, but the second was the same as the first. Removing the leg was the best way to make sure the cancer didnt spread.

Hill remembered tapping both feet on the ground while sitting by his dad before his surgery. His dad lamented that he would never see that again.

That was pretty tough, Hill said.

Hill wondered what life would be like without two legs. I had a bit of anxiety. He thought of all the things he wouldnt be able to do again once his leg was removed.

I had to be OK with it, Hill said.

He didnt really have a choice. It was either I risk my life, or I get rid of the cancer.

Doctors diagnosed the cancer Nov. 11. They removed Hills leg Dec. 6. Two days after leaving the hospital, Hill was back in the gym.

A month after surgery, Hill isnt complaining. Hes doing burpees and pull-ups, jumping rope and pulling his body weight on the rowing machine.

Hes even doing squats on one leg.

This is my life, Hill said. This is what I love to do, so nothing is going to stop me from what I love to do.

Hills mind is still focused on fitness. Im a trainer here. Im always looking for new clients.

Ive known Josh for a very long time, and hes always just been a positive dude, said Kyle Huebner, owner of KT3 Fitness in Fulton. His work ethic is incredible. Hes so motivated all the time to do new things.

That motivation has been very apparent since the diagnosis of Hills cancer, Huebner said. Its obviously a crazy situation. ... Hes had his times when hes been down, but 99.9% of the time [hes] positive. It really motivates people around him.

Hills quick recovery was possible because of his excellent physical health, but his emotional recovery came through the support of family and friends.

I couldnt have gotten through this without my parents, Hill said of David and Gini Hill. Theyve always made sure Ive had every opportunity in my life to be successful.

Hills girlfriend, Keelie Shuck, didnt leave the hospital the entire time Hill was there. After surgery, his KT3 friends hugged him each day he returned to the gym.

As soon as you join this gym, you gain a family, Hill said.

Losing a leg was not part of Hills life plan. It happened, and I cant do anything about it, Hill said. He can be miserable, or he can view the situation as an opportunity.

I do want to reach out and help people, Hill said. Hes launched an Instagram account, @ampu.fit, where he posts photos and videos of himself working out, adapting his workouts to fit his new body.

Its kind of fun trying to figure out how to do things, Hill said. He has to make this his new norm.

Hill hopes the way he has dealt with his situation will inspire others and help them deal with whatever adversity comes into their lives. I would love for people to reach out to me, said Hill. I love talking to people.

Hill still worries about the cancer recurring. I had a full-body bone scan, and it only showed tumors in my left leg, Hill said. Still, when he feels pain, which he does often because of intense physical activity, he wonders if the cancer is back.

In the next month, Hill expects to get a temporary prosthetic leg to toughen up his stump. A couple of months after that, he should get his permanent prosthesis.

Insurance will pay for a regular prosthesis, but Hill is far from regular. His family and friends are raising funds to purchase a prosthesis for working out and running.

Hill confessed that he never was much of a runner, [but] losing a leg makes me really, really miss running. He hopes to compete in the Paralympics.

On Saturday, KT3 hosted #UpHillBattle, a fundraiser to help purchase an athletic prosthesis for Hill. Athletes paid an entry fee to do a series of workouts and win prizes, Huebner said.

About 40 athletes and 50-60 spectators showed up, raising nearly $2,000.

Everyone was out of their comfort zone doing workouts they dont usually do, Huebner said. He and Hill were still sore Tuesday from the event.

His positivity is just contagious, Huebner said of Hill. Hes just one of the best people thats ever come into my life.

Read more:
Cancer takes trainer's leg but not drive or motivation - Clinton Herald