What started as a celebratory graduation trip to the Bahamas ended in tragedy for 22-year-old Hannah Smith. But just months later, the young tattoo artist and recent communications graduate is defying the odds.
Now she is inspiring thousands as she embraces a new life following a catastrophic boating accident that led to the amputation of both legs.
Now recovering at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital in Cutler Bay, Smith is not only learning to walk again with the help of prosthetics, she’s also channeling her pain into poetry, art, and a mission to support others facing physical trauma.
“I call it the unfair trade,” Smith says in a video shared by WSVN 7 News, reading from a poem she wrote during her darkest moments.
“I traded my legs for my life.”
From Joy to Trauma in an Instant
The accident occurred on May 12, while Smith was on an excursion in the Bahamas. After stepping off a dock and into the water near a boat, the vessel’s propellers struck her legs, resulting in injuries so severe that both limbs had to be amputated — one in the Bahamas, the other after she was airlifted to Miami.
Smith underwent multiple surgeries and spent weeks in intensive care before beginning intensive rehabilitation. She now spends three hours a day in physical therapy, regaining strength and mobility in preparation for prosthetic limbs.
Redefining Resilience
Though she faces a long recovery, Smith maintains an unyielding spirit. In the WSVN interview, she described the journey from her first wheelchair movement to working out again in the gym.
“Getting in the wheelchair was the first big win,” she said. “Being back in the gym gave me so much energy… I’m slowly getting back to a new normal life.”
Doctors say she has a strong prognosis, thanks in part to her mindset.
“Usually whatever I set my mind to, I feel like I can achieve it,” Smith says confidently.
Back to the Art That Saved Her
Smith isn’t just recovering physically — she’s continuing to nurture her passion for tattoo artistry and graphic design, talents she developed while earning her college degree.
Even while in the hospital, Smith wanted her tattoo machine brought to her bedside. Her goal? To tattoo herself, a symbolic act of taking back control of her body and her future.
“The only thing that hasn’t changed is I still want to do tattoos,” she said.
Creating Community Through Shared Healing
Smith is now looking ahead to how she can help others — especially children, women, and fellow amputees — navigate similar challenges. She plans to build a community centered on healing, strength, and creative expression.
“They say your pain only lasts for a season, right?” she recites in another poem. “I’m here for a reason.”
As she works toward walking with prosthetics, Smith says she’s only just getting started:
“As soon as I start getting in shape, y’all can’t stop me.”
A Life Reimagined, A Future Unwritten
Hannah Smith’s story is one of extraordinary courage. With the support of her family, medical team, and her own relentless determination, she is proving that even in the face of trauma, purpose and passion can thrive.
Her accident may have changed the course of her life, but not the strength of her vision.
