Dying was a real possibility for both me and my unborn child as I lie in the hospital on May 28, 1977. I had toxemia in the
worst way and what made it worse was my son was not due for another month. After many drugs, tests and praying, they finally
told me that they needed to take my son early on June 1st via Caesarian Section. I remember of course worrying about how
that would affect my son, after all, 35 years ago it was not an everyday thing to deliver babies a month too early. They wheeled
me into the operation room and proceeded. When they presented my son to me he weighed only 5 lbs., but oh was he cute....
oh yeah....shortly after, when talking with my husband, he inform me that Steve was born without his right hand. “One hand?”
I thought, “How is he going to be able to tie his shoes?” Imagine that as being one of your first thoughts.
When we got Steve home he was the delight of our family. He grew and grew and never missed a beat, doing anything
and everything all of the other kids were doing. His older brother, Randy, had been into motorcycles for several years by that
point and Steve was going to be no different. He literally grew up on some form of a motorized vehicle. His love was soon to be
realized when he was only 3 years old and wanted to race. And race he did. We spent every weekend from then on finding ways
for him to adapt to missing his right hand and riding his ItaliaJet. We had many friends who suggested many things and we tried all
of them. Steve, however, was the one that finally decided that just a wrist band and holding on tight was the only way for him.
He never wavered or wanted to quit no matter how many blisters he got and how many times his skin was rubbed raw on his right wrist.
I'm happy to tell you Steve never lost his love for motorcycles. He still rides today and has competed in many races. All of Steve's life, he
never complained or blamed anyone for his missing hand and did what he set out to do. He is strong willed and stubborn and I think that was the driving force that made him what he is today. Steve wanted to be a nurse… “A nurse?” I said and my thoughts were, “how does a nurse give shots or I.V.s with only one hand?” Well that’s Steve, he always figures it out and just does it. Steve is a wonderful father of 3 and a great husband. My son is going to be a force to be reckoned with as he has been all of his life and we are all wishing him the best of luck.