In a journey marked by perseverance and an unlikely twist of fate, Mandi Sedlak emerged as a champion not only in sports but also in life. Her rise to the top of the Women’s National Amputee championship in 2017 at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in Oregon stands as a testament to her resilience. Locally, she is also the reigning women’s club champion at Wild Horse Golf Club in Gothenburg, a title she defends with pride.
But Sedlak’s relationship with golf is the result of an unexpected path, much like navigating a challenging course dotted with towering obstacles. “I believe everything happens for a reason,” Sedlak stated, reflecting on her journey, “and I’ve only learned that from everything I’ve been through, I guess.”
The Big Pivot
Growing up in Kearney, young Mandi Bartels was first introduced to golf but dedicated herself to gymnastics, aspiring to elite levels of competition. “She liked golf, but gymnastics became her life. That’s all she did,” said her father, Mark Bartels, who runs a trucking insurance business in Kearney.
Her dedication was noteworthy, with college gymnastics coaches eyeing her for potential scholarships. “Mandi’s a very determined person, and when she wants to do something, she goes all out,” her father added. However, her journey took a turn when, at 13, she experienced a mysterious pain in her right foot during gymnastics practice.
“It was the summertime, and I was walking around bare-footed at gymnastics practice,” she remembered, describing the moment she felt something unusual underfoot. The pain persisted, leading to a diagnosis of plantar neurofibromatosis, a condition with painful tumors that required cautious treatment due to its potential for spreading.
Crossing Paths
Desperate for a solution, Mark Bartels sought help from numerous doctors to no avail. Gymnastics faded into the past as they searched for answers. A chance meeting with Dr. Dan Slawski at their local church offered a glimmer of hope. Slawski, a former Air Force major, recommended specialists in St. Louis, where it was ultimately decided that amputation was the best course of action. It was a monumental decision, marking Mandi’s 13th of 15 surgeries over 15 years.
Before the procedure, Mandi’s family met with a team of doctors and a certified prosthetist named Jim Sedlak. “Isn’t he cute?” Mandi’s mother, Lori, remarked to her husband after meeting Jim. It was a meeting that would change the course of Mandi’s life in more ways than one.
Sedlak, who had never attended a surgical amputation before, found the experience profoundly moving. “I don’t usually meet a lot of people prior to their amputation,” he said. “When I first met her, yeah, it was a week prior to her amputation. I’m not going to lie. It was depressing.” The emotional impact was significant, as Sedlak would later marry Mandi, and they have been together for nearly 21 years.
Fit to a T
After the surgery, Jim worked closely with Mandi on her prosthetic fit, leading to a deeper connection. She joined his Grand Island office as an office administrator. “She had an incredible personality to work with people, and she hit it off with everybody who came to the office,” Jim noted, highlighting her natural affinity for engaging with others.
