Logan, 13 and from Medford NJ, was born missing his left leg below the knee due to amniotic band syndrome. Despite his disability, and a total of 9 revision surgeries, he is a very active athlete and an advocate for the disabled community. He plays travel baseball all year with the Jersey State Bombers, competes in para track and field, runs many 5Ks with his family, and most recently joined a sled hockey team. He is also an actor, having played a feature role in the show Best Foot Forward on Apple TV+. However, one of the biggest challenges for Logan is being able to compete regularly with the right prosthesis. He uses a running blade for baseball and track and field because his “every day” leg is not meant for running. His health insurance does not cover a prosthesis for physical activity, leaving his family to search out charitable grants to cover the cost so he can continue to compete in sports. Often, they run into roadblocks when it comes to the timing; grant submission deadlines do not match the timing of Logan’s growth spurts that require a new leg. As a result, he has missed games and events. No child should have to be taken away from their team, their sport, or their community because of a lack of healthcare from insurance companies. Logan will continue to play sports, with a dream of being the first recruited Division 1 collegiate baseball player, but he cannot do this if his own medical insurance fails to provide him with what he needs. Every body deserves the right to be active and healthy and this will only benefit the insurance companies in the long run.

When Colin was just five years old, he was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive bone cancer, osteosarcoma, in October 2017. His treatment involved intensive chemotherapy and an amputation of his right leg. After the grueling treatment, his family’s main goal was to help him reclaim his childhood. Unfortunately, this journey unveiled a harsh reality with the complexity and challenges in acquiring a suitable prosthesis that would accommodate his active lifestyle and aspirations. Their hope was restored when they read about a young girl who, fitted with a running blade, transformed from struggling in gym class to reclaiming her confidence and joy. This story resonated with his family deeply and they believed Colin deserved more than just to walk – he deserved to run, play, and experience the joys of childhood without limitations. Because their health insurance would cover the cost of only one prosthesis, they applied for a grant from Amputee Blade Runners in Nashville, Tennessee, as well as Move for Jenn in Charlotte, North Carolina, both charitable nonprofits. However, the process was arduous and taxing, both emotionally and financially, requiring multiple trips, interviews, essays, and considerable time away from school and work. The necessity for a running leg extends beyond just sports; it is about the quintessential childhood experiences – playing tag, running on playgrounds, keeping up with peers, and simply being a kid. These are not luxuries but fundamental aspects of a child’s life and development.

Gio, 11, loves to run and compete in track and field with his buddies. He has a below knee amputation of his left leg and has become a passionate advocate for the So Every BODY Can Move New Jersey bill. Gio knows firsthand that specialized prosthetic legs are often deemed nonessential by insurance companies and create significant hurdles for families and children in New Jersey to gain access. Without coverage, these vital devices are out of reach and significantly impact quality of life. Gio relies on his running prosthesis, without which he would not be able to run, compete, and play with his peers. Gio is advocating for broader insurance coverage that can bridge the gap and ensure equitable access to these life-changing prosthetics.

In April of 2008, Christie was hit by an out of control car while standing on the sidewalk. Her right leg was severely broken below the knee, and she ended up with screws and plates and nerve damage. Unfortunately, her left leg could not be saved which resulted in an amputation. Thanks to her amazing prosthetists and physical therapists she was able to recover and begin her new path to normal. During this process, she searched for opportunities to become more active but was met with the incredible financial barrier that insurance doesn’t cover prostheses for physical activity. As a result, she remained more or less sedentary for over a decade. Getting active in sports to help her physical and mental health was out of reach. The only amputees she knew with running blades were advanced athletes, those competing at high levels of sport who were lucky enough to have sponsorships or other forms of financial assistance.

For Christie though, it wasn’t about being a Paralympian or elite athlete; she just wanted fundamental access to be able to jog around the block or play basketball at the playground with friends. Things that many people take for granted as accessible to everyone, no matter their economic status. Recently, she became one of the lucky amputees to obtain a grant to receive a running blade. When she put the blade on, she shared, “For the first time since losing my leg I actually felt whole again. I was able to attend a running clinic to relearn how to run, jog, and even do some dance moves based on training exercises. I was woefully out of shape after nearly 15 years of a sedentary life, but I think the part of my body that hurt the most at the end of that clinic was my face, from non-stop smiling. I have finally entered the next stage of my physical and emotional healing.”

Christie is now advocating for equitable access for all New Jerseyans.

“I’m Jillian DiBlasi, 29 years old and live in Atco, NJ. In 2020, I became a left above the knee amputee due to an accident. Prior to this, I worked as a full time oncology nurse and lived an active lifestyle. From the age of 5, I played a variety of sports that led me to play college soccer. Having this athletic background, I knew regardless of my amputation, I wanted to physically challenge myself moving forward. Due to the great expense of prosthetics, I have utilized foundations who’ve donated adaptive prosthetics to aid me in accomplishing my goals that include, but are not limited to, snowboarding, lifting, and running. I would love for everyone to have equal access to prosthetics so they can get back to living to their fullest potential as well. Utilizing these resources has changed my entire outlook on life.”