Christopher was born with a CHD Congenital Heart Defect called Truncus Arteriosus and was 5 days old when he had his first open heart surgery. His condition doesn't have a cure and requires multiple surgeries as he grows. (He has a pacemaker and a melody valve.) Overall Chris has lived a normal life with some limitations but he overcame many obstacles and enjoyed swimming, BMX racing, running, art, playing video games, and music. Chris was always a honor roll student with a bright future. He was inspired by the doctors who helped save his life and wanted to be a cardiologist when he grew up. He was just starting his freshman year when he woke with a sore throat and fever. His symptoms continued to get worse quickly and within 24 hours he was life-flighted to Sutter Sacramento where he was quickly put on life support. He went into septic shock and as a result lost parts of all 4 limbs, and nearly lost his life as well. Chris has always been that one person who shows the doctors there is different ways to do things everything isn't always by the book. His goal is to run again, and to swim. He enjoys the outdoors, the ocean, and camping, so he hopes he is able to do all the things he loves again.

Lilly is a bilateral lower limb amputee who want to walk and hasn’t slowed down since. “Honestly I think what helped the most was my mom repeatedly telling me that regardless of what we do, I will always be fabulous. I’m smart, witty, strong-willed. Regardless of what legs are, can or cannot do, I will be just fine and I’m loved with or without limits!”

“Trinity has been tenacious and ustoppable since [her UTV accident in which she lost the lower half of her dominant left arm.] She is back in the saddle riding, learning dexterity with her right hand through painting, and refusing to let the loss of her arm stop her from enjoying her life… Tell her she can’t. She’ll say watch me.”

Henry is a “sweet and silly boy with a bit of stubborn sprinkled in. Henry is initially shy but once he opens up he is so funny!” He has congenital amputations affecting all 4 of his limbs and while he is shy about his limb differences, he is always encouraged to know that he is not alone.

Charlotte is a syme's amputee of left foot, and also lost her thumb, middle, and pinky fingers on her left hand as a result of a lawnmower accident when she was 5 years old. She spent 6 weeks in the hospital and has undergone 9 surgeries since the initial injury. She is thriving now, playing sports and living an active life.

Roger was involved in a car accident that left him with third degree burns on 40% of his body and an amputation of his left leg below the knee. Having been have an athlete ever since he was 6 years old, Roger knows that he will be able to continue playing sports and even help out or encourage other people to never give up no matter the situation they are in. His future plans are to get back into college, work to be able to buy his family nice gifts, and to finish everything he started and continue with his life as if nothing ever changed.

Juan Diego came into this world via emergency C-Section while his mother was in a coma. He himself had medical issues and was given a blood transfusion, only to contract an infection that would later lead to the amputation of his left arm at only 3 weeks old. Though his life started out rough, you wouldn’t know it by looking at his bright, friendly smile.

Kutler was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in January of 2017 when he was 8 years old. Just a week after his 9th birthday he underwent surgery, deciding on an amputation instead of limb salvage because he wanted to be able to run again! After wrapping up 9 or so months of chemotherapy, it took several months for his leg to heal enough to even wear a prosthetic regularly. Since then he has strived to just live his life as normal as a young boy with a prosthetic leg can. He has pushed himself in golf, flag football, volleyball and basketball. He loves any and all sports and hopes to play on the freshman football team this year.

Liam was born with a rare congenital condition called Spina Bifida. Liam’s mom was told by the doctors that he “would never amount to anything; he won’t walk, won’t talk, won’t eat and abortion is the best choice”. She decided instead that she would help Liam prove those doctors wrong. Over the past decade, Liam has had a total of 31 surgeries and several other procedures. The majority of these surgeries involved the legs and feet. When Liam was about 4 years old in 2017, he had a foot corrective surgery that went wrong post-operatively, causing his left foot to endure a Grade 4 Staph infection and the bacteria ate all the way down to the bone. ability. That was the start of the infections that would later result in Liam losing both of his legs. Liam still struggles with infections and wounds from time to time, but not once has he let his disability define him. He is currently a member of the RHI Jr. Racers competitive wheelchair basketball team. He has also been walking with a walker and learning how to stand with forearm crutches! Liam has continued to amaze everyone around him, including his doctors. He may not be “normal” like everyone else, but that’s what makes Liam so special.

Anthony's life took an unexpected turn when, at the age of 3, he experienced a traumatic lawn mower accident. The incident resulted in the amputation of his left foot above the ankle and the loss of the heel pad on his right foot. Anthony has undergone 21 procedures to address the aftermath of the accident. Anthony's story serves as a powerful reminder to all parents: merely checking our surroundings is not enough. We must take additional precautions to keep our children safe while we mow the lawn. They must wait indoors until you’re finished cutting the grass. Before the accident, Anthony was an active child who preferred Tonka dump trucks over screens. He spent most of his days outdoors, unable to sit still for more than five minutes. Our main goal now is to see Anthony run again. His current prosthetic limits his mobility, but we remain hopeful. Running holds the promise of opening doors to other sports and activities as he grows older.

Charlie loves life! We adopted Charlie when he was 4 years old from China in 2016. Charlie was born without tibias (bone in lower leg), a radius in left arm, and he has bilateral hand deformity, but that has never slowed him down! We talked to multiple specialists before the adoption, and they all said he would need prosthetic legs. Charlie immediately took off on his walking legs and 6 months later moved to using running blades. He has not stopped moving since! Charlie has played baseball, basketball, flag football and soccer in our community sports league all the way through elementary school. Now as he is moving into middle school next year Charlie has decided to focus on golf. He has been participating in clinics and working on his game regularly. Most people at the golf club know Charlie and give him words of encouragement. Charlie loves to play tennis and pickleball with his family since his sisters play tennis. He is a joy to have around and always up for playing chess or board games, swimming, or throwing the football. His favorite team is Georgia and he displays his team on his prosthetic legs every time he needs a new set of legs.