“Well I guess there goes pedicures,” said Tornado survivor, Stephanie Decker in the ambulance when she looked down at her separated leg. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Decker’s heroic act, she saved her two children’s lives by covering them with her own body during the deadly Henryville Tornado about two months ago. However, she lost her legs in return. Thousands of people from the community and all over the world sent her well wishes, including President Obama, and her motherly instincts landed her on last evening’s Ellen DeGeneres Show.
She came on stage to the song “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” by Kelly Clarkson, which was very appropriate, and a roaring applause from the audience. She not only kept the ability to find humor in even the most difficult situations, but also remained modest by refuting her new title as a hero, “People calling me a hero, but I think of it as just being a mom.” The doctor had said that it would maybe take a year until she would be able to walk again; yet, only two months later she not only walked on stage with the help of a new prosthetic, but danced with Ellen too!
The reason behind her quick recovery can only be her faith in God and the deep love that the family shares. “Losing my legs meant nothing in comparison to what I still had,” she confidently stated on the show. Later on, when the rest of the Decker family joined her, Ellen offered the family a vacation to Hawaii and Justin Bieber made a video appearance to invite them on his “Believe” tour. Their responses were heart-warming. The Decker family not only won Ellen’s heart, but the nation’s heart as well.
Stephanie Decker as well as her husband Joe have established the Stephanie Decker Foundation at the Community Foundation of Louisville that will support kids with prosthetics and access to leading-edge prosthetics. To learn more go to: www.cflouisville.org/give_stephanie_decker_foundation
Photo: Courtesy of Community Foundation of Louisville
