Stephen Dunlap Story

1. What is your daily focus, routine or ritual that you practice that starts your day off on the right foot?

I always start my day by putting on my prosthetic left leg. Regardless if it hurts or not. Some days it’s quite painful and I want to get back in bed. I have to start off on my left foot to get on the “right foot”.

2. What is your biggest NDCQ moment? And/Or how does Not Dead Can’t Quit motivate you?

My biggest NDCQ moment was when I wrecked my motorcycle on August 7, 2019. The wreck resulted in a broken femur, cracked tibial plateau, and completely shattered foot that ended up being amputated on September 17, 2019. I told my self over and over again that I didn’t die in the wreck, so I cannot quit now no matter how hard it is or how bad it hurts. I had to rely on that daily through excruciating pain. Battling infection, and IV antibiotics that I had to go get every other day. Battling a near life threatening blood clot after my amputation that left me bed ridden for weeks. And battling intense physical therapy to learn how to walk again using a prosthetic leg. NDCQ motivates me simply because I’m still alive after all I’ve been through. I have no other choice but to move forward through the pain. And pain is just temporary.

3. What is your next personal target? Do you feel that having an NDCQ mindset and using the Not Dead Can’t Quit mantra will help you in achieving that target?

My next goal as an amputee and prosthetic leg user is, simply, to not allow my prosthetic leg dictate the rest of my life. I was very active before my accident. And I am staying very active now. One goal is to able to run a 5K again. I also plan to help as many other amputees as I can. I want to help walk people through traumatic injury recovery. And just be an example of you can do if you don’t limit yourself.