MAJA KAZAZIC

Maja & Winter - Friends forever.

When Maja Kazazic was 16 years old and living in Bosnia during the war, she was severely injured from a mortor shell rocket grenade. The six friends she was with were all killed from the grenade. After Maja had a leg removed, and was on the verge of dying from her injuries and infection, the U.S. government arranged for Maja to be removed secretly out of the country. She left her family and came to the United States for treatment, not knowing if she would ever see her mother, father and brother again. Undergoing rehabilitation at a hospital in Maryland, it was months before she found out her family survived the war. Maja was eventually able to move them all to the United States. She learned English, graduated from high school and college and is now a successful business owner.

After moving to Clearwater, Maja began coming to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and started following the story of Winter, the dolphin without a tail. She kept visiting and following Winter's progress. She began to feel that Winter was the animal version of herself. The two had both been through traumatic injuries, lost part of themselves and had prosthetics. Beyond that, from the time Maja was five years old in Bosnia, she had dreamed of seeing a dolphin in person.

Maja decided she wanted the same doctor that Winter had and went to Hanger Prosthetics and had them make her a prosthetic leg. In another ironic twist, she uses the same type of gel in her prosthetic sleeve that was originally created for Winter. Maja now volunteers at the Aquarium once a week and truly has an amazing and inspirational story to share of how a dolphin has helped her make it through her own struggles.

She has been approached by several people about writing a book and wants to eventually see her story on the big screen. The whole time she shared this story (which is much longer than I can type in one e-mail), she had a smile on her face. She said she always smiles because she's thankful every day to be alive. Her website is located at www.OneStoryOneWorld.com. Place where you can not only read Maja's story but also share your own! She also taught herself how to build websites and is now running a successful website company Vela Business Solutions, and has helped CMA create this brand new website we hope you enjoy!

Have you been inspired by Winter? Tell us your story now and let us know how Winter has made a difference in your life.