Texas woman who lost arm in dog attack stars in Kohl's campaign – Houston Chronicle

When Cydni Simmons lost her arm after a dog attack in 2017, doctors urged her to sit out her senior year of college while she adapted to a new life. 
The Pearland native, who was attacked by her own Rottweiler at her home, took off one semester, then she was back to normal. 
“I don’t want to say life has changed,” said Simmons, 25, a graduate of Sam Houston State University. “I’ve tried to make it the same. I try not to make it about me. I like the challenge of it and finding new ways to do things.” 
She’s also found a new role as a fashion model and is one of the faces of Kohl’s new clothing collection designed for adults with disabilities. She’s also modeled for the Houston-based Francesca’s.
The Kohl’s clothing line is designed for comfort and functionality. Pieces have wider necklines, functional leg openings and built-in waistline adjust-ability, along with pull-up loops, higher back waistlines and abdominal access. The collection includes jeans, active leggings, long and short sleeve base layer t-shirts and sweatshirts.
“In America, more than 41 million people live with a disability, and yet people with disabilities have historically had limited-access to fashionable and functional apparel that meets their individual needs,” said Michelle A. Banks, Kohl’s chief diversity and inclusion officer, in a release. “By listening to customers across the country, Kohl’s innovative design team was able to create new apparel that provides new options for adults with disabilities.”
The line was designed in partnership with GAMUT Management, a consulting and talent management company for people with disabilities. Kohl’s also has an adaptive clothing line for children. 
Simmons, who was studying animal science with plans to be a vet, said even though she was attacked by her own dog at home, she doesn’t fear animals. She spent six weeks in the hospital and had some 20 surgeries before her dominant arm was amputated. The dog was shot and killed by police on site. 
“I grew up around animals, and I’m still advocate for them. It was my own dog that attacked me. We had two others that were not involved, and when I got out of the hospital, I just wanted to see my dogs,” she said. 
Simmons said she’s learned how to be self sufficient with one arm, but she has faced discrimination. At one job, in which she supposed to work with baby monkeys, she was told she wouldn’t be able to move and dismantle the animal cages. She proved them wrong, then quit. 
“I don’t want to work for someone who doesn’t want me there,” Simmons said. “I never want to make it harder for other people. My mind is very adaptive. I get excited when I learn how to do something new.” 
Among her new skills are tying her shoe in five minutes, which she learned by watching a You Tube video, and styling her own curly hair into a bun and ponytail. She still plans to become a vet. 
“You should never let anyone tell you you can’t do something. It’s up to God and how many times you try,” she said.  
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Joy Sewing is the Chronicle’s culture columnist, focusing on Houston culture, families, social justice and race. The Houston native is the author of “Ava and the Prince: The Adventures of Two Rescue Pups,” a children’s book about her own rescue boxer dogs. Joy also is the founder of Year Of Joy, a nonprofit organization, to spread joy to children from underserved communities. In 2020, she was one of five “unsung Houston heroes” featured in the “Monuments by Craig Walsh” exhibit at Discovery Green Park in downtown Houston.  A former competitive ice skater, Joy became Houston’s first African American figure skating coach while in college. She currently serves as vice president of the Houston Association of Black Journalists and is an adjunct journalism professor at University of Houston. She also is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
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