Adaptive Ski bike needed to keep up with family

When I was younger, I was an avid skier and always hoped to share this sport with my children. The season before I lost my leg we had taken a family trip to Smuggler's Notch in Vermont where my kids got their first real opportunity to learn; even my wife had a few great runs and the family bonding I dreamed about was taking form. On the last day, my wife pushed me to take a solo run down one of the higher peaks and I remember being completely blown away by the view. I had no idea that by the next season would no longer be the person teaching his family how to ski, but full of doubt that I would be able to ski at all.

On January 6, 2020 I was on an errand for work transporting materials for a special project. I was parked in the shoulder checking on the load when an aggressive driver decided to use the shoulder to pass traffic. The impact traumatically amputated my left leg below the knee, and I sustained two distinct traumatic brain injuries. I was transported to a nearby hospital in Boston where my injured limb was further amputated to above the knee and I spent 4 weeks undergoing frequent debridements to clean out the wound before a skin graft could be used to close it. Remarkably, there were no other physical injuries, so between the amnesia and excellent medical care, my recovery went well. The emotional injury to my family was unseen, and their love and support through my recovery left untreated wounds.

A friend told us about NEHSA at Mt. Sunapee in New Hampshire, and in March 2021 (14 months post-amputation) I borrowed some equipment and I took a couple (pretty ugly) runs down the bunny hill. My family was ecstatic and my kids saw that I was still the same person. I was exhausted, and skeptical that I would ever want to risk my intact leg trying to keep up with them.

After trying many types of adaptive equipment, I finally found something that would work: a ski bike! These are hard to find as rentals, but the model I need is able to go up any ski lift so I would be able to go anywhere with them.

This fundraiser is to get the ski bike:

iSkibike Agility 1.5, Crud Zapper Package: $6600

Current Funding:

High Fives Grant: $3000

^^!!! Expires 12/31/2023 !!!^^

goFundMe Goal: $3600

My reach goal is to bring my family back to Smuggler's Notch. I want to take a few days skiing with them, and the only way I will keep up with them is to have an adaptive ski bike. The idea of sharing that view with them as we ski down the slopes would bring their journey (and mine) full circle.