Mike Roman began his arduous journey through pain and despair just after Thanksgiving in 1994. With courage, hope and support to overcome perhaps the highest degree of adversity, Mike has persevered to tell his story. While he lost his entire right leg and years of his life along the way to severe chronic pain, Mike now wants millions of others to know that giving up is not an option.

It all began simply enough when Mike tore a ligament in his knee while playing basketball with some friends. A surgical assistant in St. Louis at the time, Mike had what he thought was a “simple” surgery to repair the tear. Mike had no idea what was in store for him when he soon contracted a severe staph infection from the surgery.

Throughout the next several months and after numerous unsuccessful surgeries, Mike was told that an above the knee amputation may be in order. On July 25, 1995, Mike had his right leg amputated above the knee and was fitted for a prosthetic. By August 1999, his entire right leg from the hip joint would require amputation.

As with many amputees...