Hi, my name is Dan Wandeloski.

I was born with several medical challenges, the most significant being the absence of my fibula bone—a condition called fibular hemimelia. After searching across New England, my parents chose Shriners Hospital in Springfield, MA, where the best path forward for a normal childhood was to amputate my foot and begin using a prosthetic.

For most of my early years, prosthetics worked well. Things changed toward the end of grade school when I underwent double knock-knee surgery in 2009 and 2010 to correct inward-growing knees. Unfortunately, the procedures were unsuccessful and sidelined me from the sports I loved, like basketball, for two years.

The combination of amputation, failed surgeries, and a growth hormone deficiency (diagnosed at age four) eventually led to a significant leg-length discrepancy—my right femur stopped growing, resulting in a 3-inch difference in knee height that continues to affect my mobility today.

Recently, after a 9-year wait, I was finally able to undergo Internal Bone Lengthening surgery. This procedure requires me to lengthen my bone manually 2–4 times a day, a slow and demanding process that takes a serious toll on my time, energy, and ability to return to work.

Right now, I’m facing major challenges finding work due to my disability. This has made daily life—and job hunting—extremely difficult, especially when it comes to remote opportunities, which are often limited and competitive.I currently don’t have a prosthetic that fits, so I rely on crutches to get around. Even if I did have a prosthetic, I wouldn’t be able to walk on it yet—because of my recent Internal Bone Lengthening surgery, I’m not allowed to put more than 50 pounds of weight on my leg.

I require a special custom prosthetic that accommodates this restriction. As my bone continues to grow throughout the lengthening process, I’ll need another prosthetic adjusted to match the new leg length—making this an ongoing and costly need.

To make matters more complicated, if these options don’t work out as hoped, my next step would be to undergo osseointegration limb replacement surgery, a much more intensive and expensive procedure that would offer a more permanent solution for walking again.

On top of all this, I’m juggling:

Frequent medical appointments and physical therapy

Travel for prosthetic fittings

Mental health therapy to manage the emotional and physical toll

Unfortunately, insurance does not fully cover these surgeries or related care. I’m doing everything I can to stay motivated and rebuild my independence, but I’m reaching out for help to get through this difficult chapter and work toward a future where I can walk—and work—again.Your support will directly help me afford the care, mobility tools, and long-term solutions I need.

How Donations Will Be Used:

Your support will help me cover essential costs including:

Medical bills, including my current Internal Bone Lengthening surgery

Co-pays for ongoing doctor appointments and physical therapy

New prosthetics and custom foot fittings

Travel expenses for prosthetic fittings and medical care (gas, lodging if needed)

Basic car maintenance to safely reach appointments

Rent and housing costs while I’m out of work

Mental health therapy as I navigate this challenging time

Basic necessities like groceries and hygiene products until I can return to full-time employment

Thank You

I want to sincerely thank everyone who has taken the time to read, share, or contribute to my story. Your support—whether through donations, kind words, or simply spreading the word—means more to me than I can put into words.

This journey has been physically, emotionally, and financially challenging, but knowing that I’m not going through it alone gives me the strength to keep pushing forward. Every contribution brings me closer to walking again, rebuilding my independence, and getting back on my feet—literally and figuratively.

Thank you for helping me through this difficult time. I’m incredibly grateful.

— Dan Wandeloski