Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1544361
mercer.edu Since she was a baby, Callie Lowery has been defying odds and pushing past doubts. The Mercer University senior has channeled the experiences of a challenging childhood into her leadership on campus. READ THE FULL STORY Since she was a baby, Callie Lowery has been defying M E R C E R I A N S I N S P I R E Since she was a baby, Callie Lowery has been defying odds and pushing past doubts. The Mercer University senior has channeled the experiences of a challenging Since she was a baby, Callie Lowery has been defying M E R C E R I A N S I N S P I R E resilience Soon after her birth in Ocilla, Lowery was diagnosed with a rare medical condition called arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, which can cause defects in the bones and joints and affect muscles and connective tissues. "Basically, the doctors took one look at me and said, 'She will never walk, run or be independent,'" said Lowery, a neuroscience and Spanish major on the pre-med track. One doctor dared to disagree. "Dr. Harold van Bosse was the voice of reason that observed me and stated, 'She shows the desire to walk, which is more important than any doubt about the surgery not working,'" Lowery said. In total, Lowery underwent four surgeries on her hips, two on her hands and two on her foot, in addition to other procedures. By age 8, she was walking without assistance from braces and orthotics but continuing to work on her strength, endurance, flexibility and fine motor skills. "I used to tell my mom I had to work 110% harder than everybody else just to be average. I've always had to push harder than the doubt," she said. In 2025, she went with Mercer On Mission to Vietnam, where she helped fit amputees with prosthetic limbs. "I could understand that it's not just a prosthetic we're giving them. It's giving them their life back, their independence, their confidence," Lowery said. A first-generation college student, Lowery hopes to go to medical school and work with children as a physician. "Based on my own experiences and how far I've come despite so many doctors' 'no's, I want to be the one doctor that says 'yes' to help other people," Lowery said. Lowery has emerged as a leader on the Macon campus and taken an active role in numerous organizations. She has worked her way up through the Student Government Association to vice president and was crowned Mercer's 2025 Homecoming queen. PHOTO: JINA ATHAKHANH