TO HELP PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY AFTER BEING CALLED TO SERVE AS A

BEING CALLED TO SERVE AS A MORMON MISSIONARY TO THE

MORMON MISSIONARY TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. BUT BEFORE HE COULD DEPART,

BUT BEFORE HE COULD DEPART, DOCTORS DISCOVERED A BONE TUMOR.

DOCTORS DISCOVERED A BONE TUMOR. AND JIM FACED A LIFE-CHANGING

AND JIM FACED A LIFE-CHANGING DECISION.

DECISION. >> I WAS 19 YEARS OLD THINKING I

>> I WAS 19 YEARS OLD THINKING I WAS GOING TO END UP LOSING MY

WAS GOING TO END UP LOSING MY FOOT FROM THIS BONE TUMOR AND

FOOT FROM THIS BONE TUMOR AND THEY TOOK THE BONE TUMOR OFF.

THEY TOOK THE BONE TUMOR OFF. IT WAS NOT CANCEROUS.

IT WAS NOT CANCEROUS. THEREFORE EVERYTHING WAS FINE.

THEREFORE EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I WAS ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND TO

I WAS ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AS A

THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AS A MISSIONARY AND THE WHOLE TIME I

MISSIONARY AND THE WHOLE TIME I WAS THERE I JUST NOTICED THERE

WAS THERE I JUST NOTICED THERE WERE AMPUTEES EVERYWHERE.

WERE AMPUTEES EVERYWHERE. EVERY STORE THERE WOULD BE

EVERY STORE THERE WOULD BE SOMEBODY MISSING AN ARM OR LEG.

SOMEBODY MISSING AN ARM OR LEG. THAT REALLY -- I JUST HAD A

THAT REALLY -- I JUST HAD A CLOSE CALL.

CLOSE CALL. I WAS MORE AWARE EVERY IT.

I WAS MORE AWARE EVERY IT. >> RETURNING HOME, JIM COMPLETED

>> RETURNING HOME, JIM COMPLETED HIS EDUCATION AND BEGAN A CAREER

HIS EDUCATION AND BEGAN A CAREER IN MEDICAL RESEARCH UNTIL AN

IN MEDICAL RESEARCH UNTIL AN UNLIKELY ACCIDENT CHANGED HIS

UNLIKELY ACCIDENT CHANGED HIS COURSE FOREVER.

COURSE FOREVER. DURING A SKI TRIP JIM SUFFERED

DURING A SKI TRIP JIM SUFFERED FROM DEVASTATING FROSTBITE AND

FROM DEVASTATING FROSTBITE AND DOCTORS WERE FORCED TO AMPUTATE

DOCTORS WERE FORCED TO AMPUTATE HIS LEFT LEG BELOW THE KNEE.

HIS LEFT LEG BELOW THE KNEE. >> YOU CAN EITHER DECIDE TO

>> YOU CAN EITHER DECIDE TO TRIUMPH OVER IT AND MAKE YOUR

TRIUMPH OVER IT AND MAKE YOUR LIFE BETTER BECAUSE OF THIS OR

LIFE BETTER BECAUSE OF THIS OR YOU COULD GO DOWN THE PATH OF

YOU COULD GO DOWN THE PATH OF FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF OR

FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF OR FEELING THAT SELF-PITY.

FEELING THAT SELF-PITY. SO I DECIDED THE BEST WAY TO

SO I DECIDED THE BEST WAY TO MAKE THIS A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE,

MAKE THIS A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE, AND THAT'S WHAT I DID.

AND THAT'S WHAT I DID. >> YIM STARTED MENTORING -- JIM

>> YIM STARTED MENTORING -- JIM STARTED MENTORING OTHER AMPUTEES

STARTED MENTORING OTHER AMPUTEES IN THE AREA HELPING THEM

IN THE AREA HELPING THEM TRANSITION IN THEIR OWN JOURNEY.

TRANSITION IN THEIR OWN JOURNEY. HE STRUGGLED FINDING A

HE STRUGGLED FINDING A PROSTHETIC LEG THAT WOULD LET

PROSTHETIC LEG THAT WOULD LET HIM ENJOY THE LIFESTYLE HE

HIM ENJOY THE LIFESTYLE HE ENJOYED.

ENJOYED. >> I NEEDED TO BE BACK DOING

>> I NEEDED TO BE BACK DOING THAT.

THAT. SO THE ONLY WAY I COULD SEE TO

SO THE ONLY WAY I COULD SEE TO DO THAT WAS TO MAKE MY OWN LEGS

DO THAT WAS TO MAKE MY OWN LEGS AND DO IT THE WAY I COULD FEEL

AND DO IT THE WAY I COULD FEEL THAT IT NEEDED TO BE DONE.

THAT IT NEEDED TO BE DONE. I DID QUIT MY JOB AND MOVED TO

I DID QUIT MY JOB AND MOVED TO LOS ANGELES, WENT TO THE

LOS ANGELES, WENT TO THE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM FOR

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM FOR PROSTHETICS, GOT MY DEGREE, AND

PROSTHETICS, GOT MY DEGREE, AND THEN SPENT A COUPLE YEARS

THEN SPENT A COUPLE YEARS WORKING FOR DIFFERENT PLACES,

WORKING FOR DIFFERENT PLACES, FINISHED MY RESIDENCY UP, AND

FINISHED MY RESIDENCY UP, AND THEN ENDED UP OPENING MY OWN

THEN ENDED UP OPENING MY OWN CLINIC HERE IN BLOOMINGTON,

CLINIC HERE IN BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA.

INDIANA. AND LOOKING BACK, THAT WAS THE

AND LOOKING BACK, THAT WAS THE BEST THING I EVER COULD HAVE

BEST THING I EVER COULD HAVE DONE.

DONE. IT'S ALLOWED ME TO HAVE THAT

IT'S ALLOWED ME TO HAVE THAT ABILITY TO HELP HUNDREDS OF

ABILITY TO HELP HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HERE TO GET LEGS THAT ARE

PEOPLE HERE TO GET LEGS THAT ARE COMFORTABLE, LEGS THAT FIT, LEGS

COMFORTABLE, LEGS THAT FIT, LEGS THAT WORK SO THAT THESE PEOPLE

THAT WORK SO THAT THESE PEOPLE CAN ATTAIN THEIR POTENTIAL THAT

CAN ATTAIN THEIR POTENTIAL THAT THEY HAVE.

THEY HAVE. >> BUT AS JIM GREW HIS PRACTICE,

>> BUT AS JIM GREW HIS PRACTICE, HE WAS HAUNTED BY THOSE FIRST

HE WAS HAUNTED BY THOSE FIRST AMPUTEES HE HAD ENCOUNTERED IN

AMPUTEES HE HAD ENCOUNTERED IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.

THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. FOR SOMETHING AS MINIMAL AS A

FOR SOMETHING AS MINIMAL AS A BROKEN BONE CAN LEAD TO

BROKEN BONE CAN LEAD TO AMPUTATION.

AMPUTATION. AND WHERE LIMB DIFFERENCE OFTEN

AND WHERE LIMB DIFFERENCE OFTEN LEADS TO UNEMPLOYMENT AND

LEADS TO UNEMPLOYMENT AND HOMELESSNESS.

HOMELESSNESS. >> I ENDED UP GOING DOWN TO THE

>> I ENDED UP GOING DOWN TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC IN JANUARY OF

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC IN JANUARY OF 2004 TO JUST SEE IF IT STILL IS

2004 TO JUST SEE IF IT STILL IS THE SAME, IF THERE'S STILL THAT

THE SAME, IF THERE'S STILL THAT MANY AM PEW TEES IN THE COUNTRY

MANY AM PEW TEES IN THE COUNTRY AND IF THERE'S ANYPLACE HELPING

AND IF THERE'S ANYPLACE HELPING THEM WITH PROSTHETICS.

THEM WITH PROSTHETICS. I FOUND A PRIVATE OFFICE, BUT

I FOUND A PRIVATE OFFICE, BUT THEY WERE FOCUSING MOSTLY ON

THEY WERE FOCUSING MOSTLY ON BRACES BECAUSE THEY WERE EASIER

BRACES BECAUSE THEY WERE EASIER TO MAKE, CHEAPER TO MAKE WITH

TO MAKE, CHEAPER TO MAKE WITH PLASTIC, BUT TO MAKE PROSTHETICS

PLASTIC, BUT TO MAKE PROSTHETICS IS VERY EXPENSIVE BECAUSE THEY

IS VERY EXPENSIVE BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER THE FEET AND

WOULD HAVE TO ORDER THE FEET AND EVERYTHING FROM GERMANY,

EVERYTHING FROM GERMANY, SOMEWHERE IN EUROPE OR THE

SOMEWHERE IN EUROPE OR THE UNITED STATES OOP EYE TOOK TWO

UNITED STATES OOP EYE TOOK TWO SUITCASES FULL OF USED

SUITCASES FULL OF USED COMPONENTS, OF FEET, KNEES AND

COMPONENTS, OF FEET, KNEES AND PARTS AND TALKED WITH THEM ABOUT

PARTS AND TALKED WITH THEM ABOUT WHAT I THOUGHT I WOULD LIKE TO

WHAT I THOUGHT I WOULD LIKE TO DO SOMEHOW TO BE ABLE TO MAKE

DO SOMEHOW TO BE ABLE TO MAKE PRAWS THET IKDZ THERE TO HELP

PRAWS THET IKDZ THERE TO HELP THE PEOPLE.

THE PEOPLE. AND THEY WERE VERY SKEPTICAL IF

AND THEY WERE VERY SKEPTICAL IF I WAS EVER COMING BACK.

I WAS EVER COMING BACK. I BROUGHT THE CASTS HERE TO MY

I BROUGHT THE CASTS HERE TO MY OFFICE, AND AT THE SAME TIME

OFFICE, AND AT THE SAME TIME SEEING PATIENTS HERE, BUT

SEEING PATIENTS HERE, BUT SPENDING THE NIGHTS HERE MAKING

SPENDING THE NIGHTS HERE MAKING THE ONES FOR THE DOMINICANS, AND

THE ONES FOR THE DOMINICANS, AND THEN I TOOK THEM BACK, GOT THE

THEN I TOOK THEM BACK, GOT THE PATIENTS BACK IN, GOT THEM FIT

PATIENTS BACK IN, GOT THEM FIT AND THEY BROUGHT 20 MORE PEOPLE

AND THEY BROUGHT 20 MORE PEOPLE IN AND I CAST 20 MORE PEOPLE.

IN AND I CAST 20 MORE PEOPLE. NOW AFTER 10 YEARS OF WORKING

NOW AFTER 10 YEARS OF WORKING TOGETHER WITH THEM, WE'VE BEEN

TOGETHER WITH THEM, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE OVER 500 LIMBS FOR

ABLE TO MAKE OVER 500 LIMBS FOR PEOPLE, ALL FOR FREE, TO HELP

PEOPLE, ALL FOR FREE, TO HELP THESE AM PEW TEES REGAIN THEIR

THESE AM PEW TEES REGAIN THEIR LIFE.

LIFE. >> THANKS TO SPECIALIZED

>> THANKS TO SPECIALIZED TRAINING FROM JIM, CLINIC

TRAINING FROM JIM, CLINIC TECHNICIANS ARE NOW ABLE TO DO

TECHNICIANS ARE NOW ABLE TO DO CASTINGS ALL ON THEIR OWN, USING

CASTINGS ALL ON THEIR OWN, USING FINANCIAL DONATIONS TO COVER THE

FINANCIAL DONATIONS TO COVER THE COST OF MATERIALS AND FA

COST OF MATERIALS AND FA FABRICATION.

FABRICATION. JIM MAKES MULTIPLE TRIPS A YEAR

JIM MAKES MULTIPLE TRIPS A YEAR DELIVERING THE MUCH-NEEDED

DELIVERING THE MUCH-NEEDED COMPONENTS HE HAS COLLECTED FROM

COMPONENTS HE HAS COLLECTED FROM MANUFACTURERS ACROSS THE U.S.

MANUFACTURERS ACROSS THE U.S. >> MY GOAL AND THE MISSION IS TO

>> MY GOAL AND THE MISSION IS TO CONTINUE TO HELP THE PEOPLE IN

CONTINUE TO HELP THE PEOPLE IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC HAVE

THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY PROSTHETICS.

ACCESS TO QUALITY PROSTHETICS. IT DOESN'T REALLY HELP ANYBODY

IT DOESN'T REALLY HELP ANYBODY IF IT'S JUST AMERICANS THAT GO

IF IT'S JUST AMERICANS THAT GO DOWN AND FIT THESE PATIENTS AND

DOWN AND FIT THESE PATIENTS AND THEN LEAVE.

THEN LEAVE. IT'S BETTER TO GO DOWN AND WORK

IT'S BETTER TO GO DOWN AND WORK WITH THESE GUYS THAT ARE VERY,

WITH THESE GUYS THAT ARE VERY, VERY TALENTED PRAWS THETICS

VERY TALENTED PRAWS THETICS WHERE THEY CAN PROVIDE SERVICES

WHERE THEY CAN PROVIDE SERVICES IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY AND I TELL

IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY AND I TELL PEOPLE HERE THAT TRY TO

PEOPLE HERE THAT TRY TO UNDERSTAND THIS CONCEPT.

UNDERSTAND THIS CONCEPT. WHEN SOMEONE IN THE DOMINICAN

WHEN SOMEONE IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC LOSES A LEG, THE

REPUBLIC LOSES A LEG, THE THOUGHT OF THEM EVER BEING ABLE

THOUGHT OF THEM EVER BEING ABLE TO AFFORD OR GET A PROSTHETIC

TO AFFORD OR GET A PROSTHETIC LEG TO WALK AGAIN IS ABOUT LIKE

LEG TO WALK AGAIN IS ABOUT LIKE ME THINKING MAYBE NEXT WEEK I'LL

ME THINKING MAYBE NEXT WEEK I'LL JUMP ON A SPACESHIP AND GET UP

JUMP ON A SPACESHIP AND GET UP ON THE MOON.

ON THE MOON. WHEN THEY GET THAT, IT'S LIKE

WHEN THEY GET THAT, IT'S LIKE GIVING THEM SOMETHING MORE

GIVING THEM SOMETHING MORE VALUABLE THAN ANYTHING.

VALUABLE THAN ANYTHING. SO... TO SEE A KID WALKING

SO... TO SEE A KID WALKING AGAIN, RUNNING AGAIN, OR TO SEE

AGAIN, RUNNING AGAIN, OR TO SEE THE PARENTS, THEIR REACTION,

THE PARENTS, THEIR REACTION, THERE'S THE -- THE EMOTIONS,

THERE'S THE -- THE EMOTIONS, FEELINGS THAT GO WITH IT ARE

FEELINGS THAT GO WITH IT ARE VERY HARD TO EXPLAIN.

VERY HARD TO EXPLAIN. THAT'S WHAT KEEPS ME GOING.

THAT'S WHAT KEEPS ME GOING. THAT'S WHAT KEEPS ME COMING TO

THAT'S WHAT KEEPS ME COMING TO DO WHAT I DO, TO DO THIS FOR

DO WHAT I DO, TO DO THIS FOR PEOPLE, IS IT'S A REAL BLESSING