Rose Veldman Aces the US Adaptive Golf Open

By Delores Kuhlwein

Rose Veldman was ten years old, living in a Haitian orphanage, when the 2010 Haiti earthquake struck.

Though terror reigned in the orphanage during the 7.0 quake, Rose chose to rescue a three-year-old girl on the fourth floor of the building. As she made her escape, the building collapsed, crushing Rose’s legs.

She saved the little girl (who is now 17 years old and still stays in touch), but Rose lost both legs.

Shortly before the tragedy, Thomas and Anita Veldman were on a mission in Haiti, and they had visited the orphanage where 60 children lived.  “My mom really bonded with Rose at that time,” explains Carly Veldman Parks.  “When my parents got home, almost all the pictures were of Mom and Rose – she just had a special spot for this girl in her heart. Then the earthquake happened, and Mom was terrified.”

When the Veldmans learned one child passed away and Rose lost both legs, in addition to not receiving proper medical attention, Carly explains, “They moved heaven and earth to get what she needed and get her to the U.S.”

Rose arrived in America with minimally wrapped legs and wounds that were still open, weighing all of 42 pounds at age ten.  But the Veldmans met the challenges head on, just as Rose herself had done when tragedy struck.

“There are a lot of really strict rules for adopting from Haiti, including age restrictions, but they were able to adopt her despite all the criteria they didn’t meet,” says Carly.  They also had her fitted for prosthetics, and began to move her into a loving home and life, encouraging her every step of the way.

“My parents are incredible,” Carly reveals. “Rose had a rough life before she came here, and they’ve done a lot to give her every opportunity.”

Not only does Rose adore the horses the family raises and loves (Rose chose One Sensational Cowgirl, aka “Pumpkin,” who has provided a legacy of offspring for the Veldmans), but she learned along the way that golf is her jam.  She’s really good at it, too – so much so, she qualified for the prestigious US Adaptive Golf Open this July.

In Rose’s interview this week with the Golf Channel, she mentions that her dad, Thomas, always told her there was nothing she couldn’t do.  Carly says that’s the kind of person he is, and that he passed the same philosophy to all the siblings.

“We’re all just really proud she qualifed for an event of that caliber, and proud that she performed day after day in the heat with that kind of pressure,” Carly adds.  “We love seeing her in the spotlight.”

Rose finished the tournament this week with an impressive tenth place, with her family and friends, along with much of the horse community, cheering her on.

See her story in her words as she prepared to enter the finals of the US Adaptive Open this week, including the challenges she faces with two prosthetics.

 

Click below to watch her video interview from the Golf Channel: