In 1995, Ms. Holtz worked in Goma, Zaire as a Nurse Coordinator for the American Refugee Committee. She was driving in the countryside outside of Goma when her vehicle struck a landmine. She was severely injured by the explosion and rushed to a local hospital where doctors had to wire shut her fractured jaw, set her broken back and amputate both of her legs below the knees. After further medical treatment, surgeries and rehabilitation, Ms. Holtz can now walk for short distances with her two prosthetic legs and a cane. She currently writes and speaks on the problem of landmines, and serves as a Special Representative for the Landmine Survivors Network (LSN). She has represented LSN at international conferences on landmines in Turkmenistan, Canada, Former Soviet Union, Mexico and the United States.