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Ethan's Story
Ethan had one leg amputated below the knee when he was about 2 years of age as a result of a congenital birth defect. He is an elite athlete for Washington High School in South Bend, Indiana, but an ill-fitting, outdated prosthetic leg began to cause him considerable pain. Having competed in varsity baseball and football earlier in his high school years, Ethan was forced to quit both sports because he was in such pain. He walked slowly with a severe limp and running was no longer possible.
In March, 2018, we arranged travel and escorted Ethan and his mother to Seattle to enable him to be fitted with a new state-of-the art prosthetic leg as well as a running leg. Greg Davidson had everything ready for us to get started upon arrival and had Ethan up on his new leg the same day. I wish you could have seen the look on his face when he was able to run pain-free for the first time in years. He was able to resume his football career as a result. He also gained a confidence in his overall athletic future and won a prestigious wrestling tournament in the fall of 2018.
In Ethan’s own words:
“When we got to Seattle, it was all about me and how I wanted the leg. Greg wanted everything to be perfect for me and wanted it to be as comfortable as possible. His office wasn’t your traditional doctor’s office. It was very warm and welcoming. We got right down to business. He wanted to know all the problems that I had with my leg so we could rectify the problems. In no longer then a few hours, I was walking in my new leg. Though not completely finished, the difference was amazing! Right off the bat, the feeling was a huge step up from what I had before. The weight difference and how it felt connecting with the ground was incredible. This leg is going to change everything. It’s going to give me a push to work harder with my athletics and make it possible for me to excel in them again. It is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I’m so grateful the AJOY Foundation gave me the opportunity to have this.”
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Matt Branch Back on 2 Legs!!! May 24, 2019 Matt Branch has worked tirelessly over the past 5 months to get back on his feet. His attitude of fearlessness and determination have made him seemingly unconquerable! On Monday, May 20, Matt and his family traveled to Joliet, Illinois to begin working... |
One Miracle After Another for Matt Branch Mar 6, 2019 When Matt Branch and friends gathered for an annual hunting trip just after Christmas 2018, the last thing on anyone’s mind was that a dog would jump up onto the back of a Polaris Ranger and hit the safety and trigger of a shotgun causing an accidental shooting. Matt... |
“I feel like I am like a King…” Feb 13, 2019 What a great story featuring Nick Trotter from Illinois. With the heart of a champion, this 6 year-old competitor shows us all how to feel like a king who has it all.... |
