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As most of you know, my son Seth was born missing half his right leg, half his left arm and without normal hands. I met him in a Bangkok orphanage when he was 5, and it took 5 more years for the adoption to go through. Since he was so physically handicapped, my idea was to give Seth an academic education so that he could get a good desk job; obviously he would never be able to do much physically, right? ...umm WRONG!! It turns out God made my son a natural athlete, in spite of his physical limitations (a little cosmic humor?) It's hardly an exaggeration to say that Seth lives for sports. He cycles, kick boxes, climbs rock walls, skateboards, plays badminton and table tennis, swims and kayaks every chance he gets. But he can't run.
This has not always been true. Back in the orphanage when he was little, Seth had a no-frills straight leg prosthesis without knee, and he ran like the wind, stiff-legged. Since I've adopted him, the Los Angeles Shriners Hospital and the State of California have given Seth much better prosthetics. His present leg with a knee allows him to walk and sit normally, and it is healthier for his skeletal development. But when he got the leg with a knee, he could no longer run. Unless it's a bionic leg costing more than a new sportscar, a prosthesis with a normal walking knee does not work for running, because the knee is too slow to keep up with a fast gait. So when it comes to team sports like soccer, basketball, baseball and track, or just running for the fun of it, Seth is sidelined. This is a source of constant frustration for him.
Seth often talks about wanting to be a sports coach for limb difference kids. He would be an inspiring example to be sure, but to do that, he would need to run. Two years ago, we went to Camp No Limits (they are wonderful -- support them!) Many young campers have special sports legs with "running blades" similar to ones used in the Olympics. Seth was able to try one out, and he loved it. But running legs cost tens of thousands of dollars, too much for us.
So Seth applied for a grant from the Challenged Athletes Foundation for a "running blade" of his own... and he was awarded one! We are thrilled to be closer to a running leg, but we are still not quite there. The running knee and socket still need to be fabricated and fitted, and this costs about $10,000, which we don't yet have.
Can you help Seth get the running leg he has always wanted? Seth is now 20. This is his last year of school here and the perfect time to set him up for his future life. A running leg will take him into adulthood and last him for many years.
I know we are lucky to have so many friends and well wishers around the world. Crowdfunding is the only way Seth can make this dream come true. If you can spare the cost of dinner and a movie, or maybe even more, together we can make my son a very happy young man. Thank you in advance, my friends and family, for whatever you can do.
Seth says: .... "Hello everybody. Speed is my life. Please see the Justice League [a Marvel movie] and you'll see "the Flash." If you can help me get a running leg, I will be the Flash! I just want to be fast." Thanks.
This has not always been true. Back in the orphanage when he was little, Seth had a no-frills straight leg prosthesis without knee, and he ran like the wind, stiff-legged. Since I've adopted him, the Los Angeles Shriners Hospital and the State of California have given Seth much better prosthetics. His present leg with a knee allows him to walk and sit normally, and it is healthier for his skeletal development. But when he got the leg with a knee, he could no longer run. Unless it's a bionic leg costing more than a new sportscar, a prosthesis with a normal walking knee does not work for running, because the knee is too slow to keep up with a fast gait. So when it comes to team sports like soccer, basketball, baseball and track, or just running for the fun of it, Seth is sidelined. This is a source of constant frustration for him.
Seth often talks about wanting to be a sports coach for limb difference kids. He would be an inspiring example to be sure, but to do that, he would need to run. Two years ago, we went to Camp No Limits (they are wonderful -- support them!) Many young campers have special sports legs with "running blades" similar to ones used in the Olympics. Seth was able to try one out, and he loved it. But running legs cost tens of thousands of dollars, too much for us.
So Seth applied for a grant from the Challenged Athletes Foundation for a "running blade" of his own... and he was awarded one! We are thrilled to be closer to a running leg, but we are still not quite there. The running knee and socket still need to be fabricated and fitted, and this costs about $10,000, which we don't yet have.
Can you help Seth get the running leg he has always wanted? Seth is now 20. This is his last year of school here and the perfect time to set him up for his future life. A running leg will take him into adulthood and last him for many years.
I know we are lucky to have so many friends and well wishers around the world. Crowdfunding is the only way Seth can make this dream come true. If you can spare the cost of dinner and a movie, or maybe even more, together we can make my son a very happy young man. Thank you in advance, my friends and family, for whatever you can do.
Seth says: .... "Hello everybody. Speed is my life. Please see the Justice League [a Marvel movie] and you'll see "the Flash." If you can help me get a running leg, I will be the Flash! I just want to be fast." Thanks.