My name is Ryanne, and I am a single mother of three doing everything I can to raise my children with love, strength, and hope—despite circumstances that have made everyday life incredibly difficult.

We live in public housing, sharing a one-bedroom apartment, and we struggle financially. I am also an amputee. For a long time, I believed that with determination, physical therapy, and the right prosthetic, I would walk again.

I tried everything that was recommended.
I completed physical therapy.
I was fitted with two different prosthetics.
Neither worked.

After months of effort, pain, and setbacks, I met with my primary care doctor to ask what else could be done. My doctor supervises many specialists, so he personally contacted multiple orthopedic doctors on my behalf, hoping there was still an option to help me walk.

A few days later, I received an email that changed everything.

Every orthopedic doctor he contacted agreed that there was nothing further they could do. The only remaining option—the only way I would ever be able to walk again—was plastic surgery on my stump.

This surgery is not cosmetic. It is medically necessary to reshape my residual limb so that a prosthetic can fit properly and allow me to walk. Unfortunately, because I have state insurance, plastic surgery of any kind is not covered, even when it is required for mobility.

That is why I am asking for help.

I want to walk again.
I want to run.
I want to play outside with my children instead of watching from the sidelines.

In addition to walking, I am also seeking help to regain another critical part of my independence: driving.

There is a specialized company near me that helps amputees get back on the road by converting vehicles to hand-only controls. These conversions give people like me the ability to drive safely and independently. However, the amputee must provide the vehicle, and it must be no older than five years so the conversion can be done safely and reliably.

Right now, I do not have a vehicle.

Without one, I cannot drive my children to their activities, grocery shop independently, attend appointments on my own, or experience the freedom most people take for granted. Having a converted vehicle would mean independence, dignity, and the ability to fully care for my family without relying on others.

I never imagined I would be in a position where I had to ask for help like this. But I am asking because I want more than survival—I want a future. I want to be active, present, and independent for my children.

Any support—whether through a donation or by sharing my story—brings me one step closer to walking again, driving independently, and rebuilding my life.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for helping my family move forward.