Gracie Rosenberger

In 1983, I had a catastrophic car accident that’s cost me more than seventy operations, nearly nine million dollars …and the amputation of both legs.

Although my journey continues to be challenging, I choose to trust God’s hand in this, and, along the way, experienced grace and hope in amazing ways. I remember taking my first steps on artificial feet so many years ago, and never dreamed where those feet would take me. My prosthetic legs allow me to live an active life as a wife, mother of two wonderful sons, managing a career, singing for Presidents, appearing on national television … and even extreme activities such as snow skiing on advanced slopes!

Those experiences and others helped shape a desire to reach out to those dealing with their own painful realities … to let them know that brutal circumstances don’t have to prohibit a meaningful life. So my husband, Peter, and I founded Standing With Hope in order to share the same hope that continues to sustain us.

My journey that began with ten short steps the first day I walked on my new legs, culminated when we arrived in West Africa to launch our prosthetic limb outreach to amputees in developing countries; helping others take their own first steps.

The scope of Standing with Hope continues to grow; one of our teams recently returned from Ghana, where they also trained workers sent by the neighboring country of Togo …and patients travel from as far as Nigeria to receive limbs from the workers we train and supply. In doing so, they not only walk, but hear the life changing message of God’s salvation through Christ.

Collecting used artificial limbs from the US (I’ve even dug through my closet to collect limbs I’ve used in the past), we recycle the components. Inmates help us disassemble the limbs at a correctional facility in Tennessee, and those recycled components are incorporated into custom fit limbs we make in Ghana.

To my knowledge:

• I am the only double-amputee woman in the world doing this.
• Standing With Hope is the only full-time Evangelical prosthetic limb outreach …in the world.
• Standing With Hope is the world’s only prosthetic limb outreach that partners with inmates to recycle limbs.

Pretty cool, huh?

We invite you to get involved with us as we expand the impact of Standing With Hope. Sponsoring a $15 Bubble-Wrap covering that my son invented, or donating a used limb with components that can be recycled, or supporting one of our volunteer prosthetists, or sponsoring equipment and supplies …there are many ways to participate –and we could really use your help. Take a few moments, look around our site, sign up for a free membership, and join us as we equip others to stand with hope in Jesus Christ!

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