Double-amputee joins Mission Senior Living team for Reno-Tahoe Odyssey

At the start of the 14th Annual Reno-Tahoe Odyssey Relay Run Adventure on Friday in Wingfield Park, Jonah Vandever will join runners scheduled for the 7:30 a.m. start time. Only the 20-year-old double amputee won’t be running, he’ll be hand-cycling.

Allowing someone to handcycle is a first for the annual Reno-Tahoe Odyssey. According to Eric Lerude, founder, and president of the Reno-Tahoe Odyssey, the exception was made for Jonah as a way to help support a greater cause. “It’s not unusual for people to use the event as a platform for a personal cause,” said Lerude. Although hand-cycling isn’t typically allowed, he believes participants will understand.

“The goal isn’t to win the race,” said Sarah Green, MSL’s vice president of operations. “We hope Jonah’s strong spirit and determination will touch the community and fellow racers the same way it has touched us. Jonah’s journey hasn’t been easy, but he embraces life and inspires others with his story.”

According to Jonah’s mother, Steffini, Jonah was a “chocolate mess” when he was born. So sweet and always happy, she said, but he was born with inverted legs, clubbed feet and a missing forehead. At 18 months old, Jonah’s legs were amputated from above the knees. Two weeks later he surprised his doctors by walking across the living room with stitches on the bottom of his stumps.

Jonah’s endured 33 surgeries in his lifetime, but his disability doesn’t stop him from living an adventurous and exciting life. He runs, hikes, bikes, skis, and rides dirt bikes. Jonah is the only one in the world to Alpine ski upright. He won a gold medal at skiing event in Massachusetts when he was 13 years old.

At seven-years-old, Jonah participated in his first triathlon, the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) San Diego Triathlon Challenge, and met the late Robin Williams. The pair bonded and had planned to team up for the 2015 triathlon before the comedian’s passing. For six years in Breckenridge, Colo., Jonah participated in a skiing program with soldiers returning from Iraq, and shared his story to encourage them that there is more to life after limb loss.

Now, Jonah needs new knees and legs. The computerized knees and legs he is using were donated by U.S. Marines and customized for him by Hangers Clinic in Reno. There’s about 4-5 month shelf-life left, Jonah explained, and the warranty has expired.

“Over the years, I've been running around on many different forms of prosthetic limbs. I never let my physical limitations stop me from living the adventurous and exciting life that I desire to live,” he said.

Mechanical knees, while an option, take a physical toll on Jonah, and have caused injury to his back. Computerized knees, while more costly, can safely support Jonah’s physically active lifestyle, but his insurance refuses to cover the cost.

Jonah is trying to raise funds to cover the cost of computerized knees, legs, feet sockets, all of which have to be assembled and customized for Jonah by Hangers Clinic. He set up a GoGetFunding.com page where people can donate.

Jonah is a student at Truckee Meadows Community College and plans to use his story to motivate others. “My goal is to travel the world and bring hope to the hopeless and show the world that there is nothing that can stop us from achieving greatness and living a fulfilled life, not physical disabilities, deformities...not even missing limbs. I don’t have legs, so what?”

Jonah is excited for race day. Hand-cycling, he said, is his “adrenaline at the moment” and he appreciates the Mission Senior Living team embracing him and his story.

Steffini agreed and said, “The Reno community has always been amazing for Jonah.”

Go here to learn more about Jonah’s story.

About Mission Senior Living
Carson City, Nev.-based Mission Senior Living operates six assisted living and memory care communities that offer individualized, quality care in a secure, loving environment. Its mission, “Caring People, Serving People, Improving Lives,” is fulfilled by a compassionate team of professionals who share a common purpose and passion for serving others and engaging residents and family members through enriching, customized programs, and activities. Through the Ageless Dream program, residents share their lifelong dream and team members work together to make that dream a reality.

Mission Senior Living communities include: Skylark Assisted Living and Memory Care, Ashland, Ore., Skyline Estates Senior Living and Memory Care, Carson City, Carson Valley Senior Living, Gardnerville, Nev., Summit Estates Senior Living, Reno, Nev., Fernley Estates Senior Living and Memory Care, Fernley, Nev., and River Valley Estates Senior Living and Memory Care, Yuma, Ariz. For more information about Mission Senior Living, visit http://www.missionseniorliving.net/ or call (775) 468-6114.