With Stephens, everyone wins
Almost two years ago to the day, Kyle Stephens, a Logan resident, lost his legs in a road construction accident. Now, Stephens has been named the 2001 Pinnacle Award recipient.
The national award given by Springlite – a producer of prosthetic limbs in Salt Lake City – is awarded to someone involved in the medical field relating to losing a limb, Stephens said.
“They determine it on overall attitude and outreach programs,” he said.
After 18 surgeries, prosthetic legs and daily therapies continuing still – positive feedback, such as the award keeps Stephens going.
“These kinds of things and people telling me how good I’ve done make me want to do even better,” he said.
Stephens was working in central Utah near Scofield when the pneumatic roller he was operating rolled – due to faulty equipment and low tires that had been previously reported. Stephens then got caught on the armrest of the roller making him unable to free himself as the machine rolled over him putting 13 tons of pressure on his legs. Fellow workers rushed to his side and one even made two tourniquets that stopped some of the bleeding and kept Stephens alive until help arrived. He was then life flighted to Salt Lake City. While aboard the helicopter, Stephens died but was resuscitated by paramedics resulting in four cracked ribs.
“It was a nightmare,” Stephens said. “Without my fellow workers and life flight, I wouldn’t be here.”
Stephens spent two months at the LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City until he “begged to get out” and moved to Logan to live with his sister and continue his recovery.
By March 2000 with the help of doctors, friends and new legs, Stephens was walking again. He credits the support of friends, family members and doctors for pulling him through.
“A lot of people said it was just my attitude, but they helped a lot, too,” Stephens said. ” I really want to thank the people out there who have stood behind me, not just physically but mentally, too.”
He is also grateful for members of Amputees In Motion (AIM) who made him believe that if they can do it, he can too.
“I’m very fortunate. It took me awhile to realize it but I’m very lucky,” Stephens said.
Stephens’ story was highlighted on the Jenny Jones Show in April. The talk show focused on people who have overcome traumatic experiences and survived. Stephens family contacted the show to get his inspiring story on national TV.
“It was wonderful. Everybody gets their 15 minutes of limelight in their life, and I think that was possibly mine,” Stephens said of the TV experience. “It was fun but I wasn’t calm, I’ll put it that way.”
A follow-up on Jones’ show is a possibility as is an appearance on Oprah, Stephens said.
Stephens’s philosophy has always been to make a bad situation good. This optimistic outlook led Stephens to Common Ground Outdoor Adventures in Logan.
Common Ground is a non-profit organization offering adaptive sporting equipment and recreation for those with disabilities. Stephens has always loved the outdoors, traveling and still enjoys fishing, camping, golfing and other outdoor activities.
“I still have that bad [golf] slice, that’ll never change,” Stephens said. “We do a lot of outdoor adventure stuff. It’s quite fun.”
Stephens, as the Common Ground outreach coordinator, keeps busy writing grants and doing fund raisers. Now that state and federal funding for the start-up of the organization has run out, Common Ground is self-sustained. After his time at Common Ground, Stephens hopes to go back to school and major in business.
Along with being high-lighted in three magazines produced by Disabled Sports USA in Rockville, Md., Stephens also received $2,000 which he is donating to Common Ground in his mothers name who passed away 8 years ago due to complications with cancer.
“The day my mother died was the worst day of my life. So, I donated the money in her name because we’re struggling at this time with federal and state funds. I’m just trying to make a bad situation good,” Stephens said. “What makes me feel good is to help others who need it.”