FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- A man who lost his legs to a bacterial infection when he was 17 years old is overcoming adversity and plans to run in the New York City Marathon in November.

John Tartaglio's legs were amputated after he contracted an infection so rare, there are only 30 documented cases worldwide. The infection ate away at the muscle in his legs and one of his biceps.

"I woke up one day, had severe pain in the legs and next thing I knew, I was in the hospital," Tartaglio said.

Tartaglio will graduate this weekend with a biology degree from Fairfield University. He plans to prepare for medical school this summer and then run in the New York City Marathon in the fall.

"I'm going to be the first person to run it at my level of amputation," he said.

When Tartaglio was first treated with the infection, his doctors said he had a 20 percent chance of survival. He said he worked hard and increased his odds.

"Getting out of college is just like another step," he said. "I just have to deal with whatever else comes my way in the real world."

Tartaglio is raising money in this fall's marathon for a group called Aspire Without Limits.

For more information about the organization, visit its Web site.