Life After Limb • Gabe Goreham

Hi - I'm Gabe Goreham. 
At age 19, I lost control of a motorcycle and was hit hard by a highway truck. I lost both of my legs above the knees on the road that day, and more than 70% of my blood from injuries.

Watch my story in this video:

It had to be a miracle kept me here through the impact and first life-and-death days. I remember the powerful moment something in me chose to turn back from the edge of death.

So I thought staying alive through my accident, infections, pain and countless surgeries was the big challenge, and I'd made it! I knew God kept me alive for a reason! But I struggled to get into life without legs.

What I know now is that surviving my accident was really just the beginning of a deeper healing journey...

(I share my story in the video above. Definitely take a look!)

Why this campaign now?

Many people have been kind and generous to me in so many ways since my accident. I'm sure the love, care, support and prayers are a big reason I'm here today!

But to be honest, fear and depression still clouded my heart for a quite a while. I wasn't getting over the shock of what happened and what I lost. I couldn't let in the love, blessings and opportunities coming my way. I hid away, using substances and all kinds of ways to avoid my pain.

I'm so happy to say, I got some deep healing! Now I'm in a whole new place. It's like a fresh new world's opening up for me! I'm deeply excitement about life every day,  grateful every morning I wake up alive! I love connecting with people and make the most of all I am blessed to still have.

I'm able to make FULL use of ANY support that comes my way now.  I try to take every step I can to move forward and help others too, every day.

A wonderful supporter from my gym convinced me to put up this campaign. So here it is!

How will your contribution help?

• Help Me Function Independently

I'm excited to move back to California soon to help plant and grow a new church. Driving independently will make this possible! I want to attend church meet ups, volunteer in mentoring programs and start looking for work under my own steam. With hand controls and either prosthetics or a wheelchair that breaks down into pieces, I can get in and out of a car and drive on my own.

ALL CONTRIBUTIONS will go first toward a reliable SUV that's big enough to carry my wheelchairs, prosthetic legs, groceries, a friend or two – and hopefully some adaptive extreme sports equipment, too.

The newer the vehicle, the longer I can get value out of the adaptations that will make a car drivable without feet or legs–mainly handcontrols. (This is the main reason my goal is set at $30,000.)

• Keep Me Moving Forward

A lot of resources go into keeping me walking and rolling forward (aka - living a life without limbs!)

• Gym Fees - Working out in an accessible gym and positive community is a huge blessing for me. It helps me find my health and happiness over and over again! >>UPDATE 4/18/14 – GREAT News! - HealthQuest Fitness offered me a complimentary gym membership! The owners said they wanted to thank me for my testimonial about how having a supportive community and being able to work out has helped me face my challenges. So grateful to HealthQuest! (Read here: http://healthquest-fitness.com/testimonials/gabe-goreham/)

• Medical Expenses - Walking on prosthetic takes constant medical adjustment, repair and equipment replacement. All this costs money! My wheelchairs need to be repaired and replaced routinely, so I can keep getting around. Any help toward  these high costs would be amazing! 

• Make My Dreams Come True

• Sports Equipment - Before my accident I was all about athletics. If possible  I'd love to "ride the roads" again like I used to on a bicycle, especially with friends and family. A handcycle will need to be custom fit and balanced, and I'm hoping I'll get to try one someday. I also want to try legless-skiing, and hop on an ice-sled for disabled hockey. Usually sports equipment has to be custom fit to my different-shaped body, so I can't buy a used bike off Craigslist like most people can, for instance. The expenses are for real!

Whether you contribute dollars–or just your kind wishes and prayers–thank you so much for your interest and care.

I hope you enjoy the video of my story, and that it inspires you to never give up hope!

See you soon and GOD BLESS!
~ Gabe