What do Disney World, Good Morning America, President Bush and an Olympic gold medalist have in common? Not much, perhaps - unless, like Sean Brame, you are one of this year’s award winners in the Champions Across America program sponsored by the Children’s Miracle Network.

Sean and Patrick, at the White House (photo courtesy of Carol Brame)

In March, the 2008 Champions Across America program recognized Sean for his commitment to helping and inspiring others and named him its ambassador from Pennsylvania. As a result, Sean and his family flew to Disney World to participate in the television production of the Children’s Miracle Network Celebration, he was a guest on Good Morning America, and he met Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton and Miss America. His final reward was meeting President George W. Bush at the White House.

Sean being interviewed at Children's

Miracle Network event. (photo

courtesy of Carol Brame)

Between press photographs, President Bush shook the kids’ hands. “He was shocked when he went to shake my hand,” Sean explains, “because I don’t have a right hand. But he gripped my forearm and gave me a firm handshake.”  

Being named a Champion is just one of the many awards and accolades that Sean has received over the last few years. Still, despite his recent fame and his many speaking engagements, he remains a typical 12-year-old who likes playing soccer, being a boy scout, and just being a kid.

Surprisingly, Sean’s journey toward becoming a Champion might have begun in May 2005 when he was just 9 and lost parts of all four of his limbs as a result of septic shock following an ankle injury. He amazingly survived a 17-week struggle for life in the hospital against many of his doctors’ expectations. Indeed, he was one of the sickest patients to survive that the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Penn State Children's Hospital has cared for in 20 years. His family and the community considered his recovery a miracle.

Once out of the hospital, Sean became involved in the Amputee Support Team, a local support group. There he received support and encouragement from other amputees. This involvement, along with his determination and strong family support, helped Sean recover and grow.

Over the years, Sean has developed into a true champion for the amputee community and is now a vocal supporter of the Amputee Coalition of America’s (ACA’s) efforts to pass legislation to provide appropriate prosthetic coverage for all amputees. When asked why he volunteers and gives back to help others, Sean puts it simply: “When I was sick, so many people helped me and my family that, when I am asked, I cannot help but say yes.”

In 2007, Sean was named the ACA Role Model of the Year because of his efforts to help pass prosthetic parity legislation and his ability to inspire others. He also received a Hero Award and Mile Swim Award from the Boy Scouts of America. In addition, he was an honoree of the Shoot for Hope program from the NBA and a member of Distinguished Honor Roll from the West Shore School District for making straight A’s for 3 consecutive marking periods.

Even though Sean has overcome many difficulties as an amputee and has accomplished a lot in the past few years, he still faces challenges. He needs help putting on his prostheses and attends therapy 3 days a week to help him stay mobile. Walking up and down stairs is difficult, and he must be careful about getting accidentally pushed down. He doesn’t mind though, he says, because he gets to ride the school elevator.

Sean also gets a little help from his friends and family who sometimes take notes for him in class. They are very supportive and “never make fun of me,” he says. Sean’s brother, Patrick, even helps out when needed. “He won’t admit it and neither will I, but I like it when he helps me,” states Sean.

Sean often shares his story with others so that he can help save other kids from getting septic shock. “I also do a lot of things in the community so that people can see that just because I am an amputee, it doesn’t mean that I am not able to help others,” says Sean.

In the future, Sean hopes to design prosthetic devices and would especially like to invent prosthetic fingers that move like real fingers. He is also an aspiring politician.

“Someone said I should run for governor,” says Sean. “Who knows? Why stop there? Maybe I can live in the White House someday and have the Miracle kids visit me.”

Certainly, Sean’s recent speaking engagements and prosthetic parity efforts have helped prepare him for such a demanding but rewarding career.

Sean’s parents are proud of the way he has adapted to his limb loss and has become a force for change. Though this experience has changed the focus of his entire family, they always remember to take one day at time. When asked what it is like to have such an active and inspiring young man as a son, his parents simply say, “Sean is still Sean.”

One thing that really helped Sean and his family was finding a local support group shortly after his hospital stay. “I don’t know where we would be right now if it were not for our Amputee Support Team,” says Carol Brame, Sean’s mother. “Their encouragement and support helped Sean more than they will ever know.”

The rest of the family’s support system also made their situation much easier. Nevertheless, they know that they still must help Sean in many ways. They know that they must fight to help ensure that he continues to get adequate insurance coverage for his legs as he grows.

Sean’s parents encourage other families to ask for help where possible. They say that parents must realize that they cannot do this alone. For example, they suggest getting friends and family to help drive children to appointments. Finally, Carol says, “Make your medical team your ally. Ask them for assistance with school issues, social issues and emotional issues.”

                                                                                                                      Sean meets Marie Osmond

                                                                                                                     (photo courtesy of Carol Brame)

“Never say you can’t because you can ‑ just differently,” Sean tells other young amputees. His nurse told him this every day when he was in the hospital. Today Sean lives by this motto and uses his passion to help inspire others. Indeed, it is this philosophy that has made Sean a true champion of hope for amputees around the country.

Note: No funding from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) is used to support ACA advocacy efforts. The views represented in this article do not necessarily represent the views of the CDC.