The Family Who Fought Alongside Me and Never Gave Up
Most people think of family as those with whom they share blood. But for me, family is defined by love, support, and the people who refuse to give up on you—even when the odds seem impossible. My journey to where I am today, sitting in front of you, was not an easy one. It took perseverance, faith, and the incredible team at Syracuse Prosthetic Orthotic Center, who became my family when I needed them the most.
The Day Everything Changed
It all started with an accident. A kid hit me, and the bones tore through my pants. At the time, I thought I just had a badly broken leg. But my knee was flattened like a pancake—there was no viability. I didn’t understand what that meant, but the doctors did. They kept scraping my leg, asking if I could feel anything. I couldn’t.
Dr. Simpson finally gave me the news. He had already spoken with my friends and family—some who had traveled from New Jersey. They told him straight up: She’s going to fight you. She won’t let you take her leg. And they were right. I refused to accept it. I demanded a second opinion.
That Monday, the chief vascular surgeon ran a battery of tests. By that evening, he told me what I had been trying to deny: We must take the leg. Gangrene has already started.
Exactly one week after the accident—December 13th—I underwent the amputation. My life would never be the same.
The Fight of My Life
The accident was only the beginning. A 10-year war with insurance companies followed, fighting to get the prosthetic leg I deserved. I was out of work for 15 years, navigating not only physical loss but the emotional and financial devastation that followed.
Through it all, the Syracuse Prosthetic Orthotic Center stood beside me. They didn’t just treat me—they fought for me. For ten years, they stayed in the ring with me, battling alongside me against the insurance companies that tried to deny me a basic right: the ability to walk and live my life fully.
Other companies might have given up, but not Syracuse Prosthetic. Not John Tyo, whom I met in the hospital and whose passion for this work was inspired by his own father. Not Keith Willis, who never stopped pushing for me to have a prosthetic that actually fit my lifestyle, not just something insurance deemed “good enough.”
They saw me, they heard me, and they refused to settle for less. Because of their steadfastness, love, and commitment, I am here today—moving forward, thriving, and living my life on my terms.
More Than Just a Prosthetic—A Chosen Family
God placed people in my life who stood by me through every struggle, every setback, and every small victory. Syracuse Prosthetic was part of that. They weren’t just a medical team—they became my family.
Family isn’t just about DNA. It’s about who shows up for you. It’s the people who encourage you when you can’t encourage yourself. It’s the ones who want to see you win, even when you feel like you’re losing.
Grateful Beyond Words
It has been a long road—17 years of fighting, 10 years of battling insurance, and a lifetime of perseverance. But now we are here. And I am not alone.
To Syracuse Prosthetic Orthotic Center, to every doctor, advocate, and friend who stood by me, and to my chosen family—you have given me more than just a prosthetic leg. You have given me Ruby.
