Walking On Sunshine
Since we started in 2013, we’ve helped over 1,200 amputees regain mobility with new prosthetic limbs.
Read more "nope to hope" stories from our Steps of Faith clients.
Meri
Isabel
Diana
Jeff
JP
Jon Michael
Matt
Jerry
Brad
Grace
Abby
Meri
Meri's story begins in January of 2023. After she experienced the sudden and traumatic loss of her right leg, amputated above the knee, Meri began the process of being fitted for a prosthesis. Little did she know that by the time her device was ready to be delivered, her insurance would no longer be active. Paying for such a prosthetic out of pocket was out of the question, but with the support of her prosthetist Ashley Eaton at Hanger Clinic, Meri applied for assistance with Steps of Faith. Three weeks later she was up, standing, and walking with her new leg.
“When I see other amputees living their lives, it encourages me, so I want to do the same thing for other people.”
Watch Meri’s Story
Jeff
When Jeff was 17 years old in 2009, he lost his leg due to metastatic osteosarcoma. Initially, he had access to a quality prosthetic leg. While it served him well for a number of years, Jeffery eventually transitioned off of his parent's medical insurance. The combination of an active lifestyle and his part-time job put many miles on his device but his lack of health insurance eventually proved to be an insurmountable obstacle in keeping his prosthetic serviced and fitting properly. Steps of Faith was able to help provide new components and connected him with prosthetist and SoF board member Emily Perkins, who helped fashion a new socket for him that fits.
“ Having this little bit of help, having this foundation exist, helps people like me get back to a normal life.”
Watch Jeff’s Story
Matt
Matt recently found himself in the precarious position that many amputees find themselves in – no savings, no insurance, and no means to afford the necessary prosthetic device to keep him mobile and earning a paycheck. With the help of Steps of Faith, Matt was able to get the leg he needed to get back to work. It also enabled him to reconnect with his passion for skateboarding and inspire others to transform their disabilities into opportunities.
“Steps of Faith is literally giving people their lives back so they can take care of themselves. ”
Watch Matt’s Story
Grace
As Jason Sudeikis said during our 2020 Thundergong! event, "That's Grace, by name and by virtue." Grace's story starts in India. Born without a leg, a congenital disorder that often ends in tragedy, she was adopted into a generous and giving family. Her insurance coverage ran out at the age of 18 and she hoped for the best that her prosthetic would hold out. In 2019, that hope was dashed when her device started to fail and break down. Thanks to the good people at Hanger Clinic, Grace was referred to us. Thanks to our generous donors, Steps of Faith was able to help repair and restore her prosthetic leg as well as restore some hope along the way.
“I wouldn’t be standing here today telling my story if it weren’t for Steps of Faith ”
Watch Grace’s Story
Isabel
Isabel’s story is one of perseverance and optimism in the face of extraordinary adversity at a young age, where beating cancer was only the first step on a longer journey to full recovery. As a young girl, Isabel was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a very rare type of cancerous tumor that grows in bones or the soft tissue around them, such as cartilage or nerves. Following countless surgeries, she eventually had her leg amputated in 2010. While her first few prosthetic limbs were adequate, Steps Of Faith was excited to assist this young survivor in receiving a much more functional leg after aging out of her mother's Medicaid and denied by her own insurance plan. Isabel now walks confidently with a new leg and is pursuing new possibilities.
“I would just love to be independent like everyone else at my age. ”
Watch Isabel’s Story
JP
JP’s life was forever changed in a single moment when he was hit head on by a drunk driver. While he miraculously survived the accident even after being pronounced dead at the scene, he wasn’t emotionally or financially prepared for what would come next, including the loss of his right leg. After losing his job and his insurance following months of recovery, JP reached out and we helped connect him to the resources he needed for a prosthetic leg. Not only was he able to stand and walk again, he was also able to find a new sense of purpose as an active and contributing member of society.
“They want you to stand up and become the man or the woman you used to be. ”
Watch JP’s Story
Jerry
Jerry, an amputee from Kansas, was really in a dangerous situation. After losing a leg in an accident he was no longer able to work at his job. With no insurance and no income, Jerry ended up homeless. Jerry was without a leg and unable to walk for over a year and a half. With our help, he was able to meet with one of our prosthetist partners in Olathe, KS and was fitted for a brand new limb, which in Jerry’s own words, “gave me my life back”. Jerry is now back to work, on Medicaid, out of a shelter and into a new home.
“They help people get limbs and get motivated again. They saved me. ”
Watch Jerry’s Story
Abby
On July 4th, 2014, Abby and her fiancé were in a motorcycle accident. As a result, Abby lost her right leg below the knee and her fiancé tragically lost his life. Abby found herself unable to work and struggling to take care of her young daughter. Steps of Faith got her back on her feet, back to work, and able to overcome any possible limitations she would have faced keeping up with an active, growing child. In a beautiful twist of fate, Abby welcomed her second child on July 4th, 2016.
“I owe everything to Steps of Faith. They gave me my life back. ”
Daina
Daina is a survivor of the Oklahoma City bombing of 1995. This horrific act of terrorism took her mother, two children, and her leg. 20 years later, Daina was in desperate need of a new prosthesis with no way to pay for one. We were able to take care of her in Nashville, and get her walking comfortably and confidently once again. Daina is an inspiration and example of true resilience. Read more about Daina’s story here.
Watch Daina’s Story
Jon Michael
In 2008, Jon Michael was in an accident where he lost his right leg below the knee. While Jon Michael received a leg immediately following his accident, a welder and bridge builder by trade, he was unable to work and lost his insurance. In 2015 Jon Michael found himself unable to consistently work due to the demands of his profession and the low quality of his prosthesis. Steps of Faith was contacted and able to outfit Jon Michael with a prosthesis that allowed him to sustain the difficult work of being on his feet for extended periods. Within a month, he found an amazing job that included full benefits for future needs associated with his prosthesis. In addition to returning to work, he also just trained for a marathon and crossed the finish line.
“Steps of Faith showed me what’s possible. It’s no longer about what I can’t do, but what I can do. ”
Brad
In 2014, undiagnosed diabetes caused the loss of Brad’s right leg. Without insurance, Brad found himself in a wheelchair. Steps of Faith was contacted and able to help. As the owner of a Private Investigative and Protection firm, he was no longer able to participate in training and fieldwork. Brad was so determined to get on his feet that the day he received his prosthetic, he declined the aid of a walker or cane and walked out of the office unassisted-a rare accomplishment. Today, Brad is back in the field and has made it his mission to give back to the community. In addition to putting a volunteer program into his business model, 20 of his 55 staff members are faced with disabilities. Steps of Faith restored Brad’s purpose, and now he does the same for others who face similar challenges.
“If it wasn’t for Steps of Faith, I don’t know where I’d be. They gave me back my dignity and ability. They’ve given me the gift to pay it forward. ”