Many people dislike hospitals.

Not Isabelle James.

“After being in and out of hospitals so much, it’s almost like a second home,” she said.

Isabelle, 16, lost her left leg in a lawnmower accident when she was almost 2 years old. Since then, she’s been a regular at Shriners Hospital for Children in Spokane.

She likes the idea of being in a hospital not as a patient, but as a provider, helping people through some of the most challenging times in their lives. She’s considering a career in medicine.

But that could change, she said. After all, she’s a 10th-grade student at Christian Center School in Hayden. She has plenty of time to decide on her future.

In the meantime, she’s headed to Las Vegas.

Isabelle is one of 22 patient ambassadors selected from throughout the country to represent the health care system at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open this weekend, a golf tournament on the PGA Tour. She’ll serve as a standard bearer throughout the weekend, carrying the scores of professional golfers while they compete.

She said she felt excited and nervous at the prospect of representing Shriners. But she realized it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“You’ve got to take it when you have it,” she said.

Kim James, Isabelle’s mom, said she’s proud to see her daughter represent Shriners.

“She’s inspiring,” Kim said. “She has a great attitude.”

Isabelle said she relishes to opportunity to give back to the organization that has given her so much over the years.

For years, Isabelle had only one prosthetic leg — a cosmetic leg that was good for walking but not much else. The leg feels rigid, she says, like she’s lugging it around. A running leg, meanwhile, has a curved blade in place of a foot. It’s lighter than a cosmetic leg. It’s springy, too.

But a prosthetic running leg can cost more than a car, and special prosthetic devices used for athletics are rarely covered by insurance. It was only with the help of Shriners that Isabelle was able to get her first running leg.

She still remembers how she felt when she tried it on for the first time.

“It was an amazing feeling,” she said. “I couldn’t help but bounce on it. My mind was blown.”

Isabelle is active, in large part because of what a running leg helps her to do. She plays volleyball and swims. She also likes performing in plays and singing.

“I can play sports now because I can have two prosthetics,” she said. “Shriners helped me gain mobility in many ways. I can thank them for giving me the prosthetics I need to enjoy my life.”

Isabelle said she lives her life to the fullest — and she has no plans to slow down.

“Being considered disabled doesn’t really limit you in any aspect of your life,” she said. “Nothing’s going to stop me.”