Photograph of Mike Roman courtesy of the ACA.
“Dreams come true if you have the courage to dream them.” This is racecar driver and world land speed record-holder Mike Roman’s motto. As an amputee, Roman is dedicated to spreading his message of hope, and he will do just that on August 28, as keynote speaker at the 2010 Amputee Coalition of America’s national conference in Irvine, California.
Roman will recount his story during the conference’s gala dinner. He will stress the importance of determination, family teamwork, setting goals, and the perseverance to achieve those goals.
“We are honored to have Mike Roman as our keynote speaker,” said Kendra Calhoun, ACA president and CEO. “In the face of despair and adversity, Mike overcame a tragic situation…. Our members are looking forward to hearing his inspirational message.”
According to an ACA press release, Roman began his arduous journey just after Thanksgiving in 1994, when he tore a ligament while playing basketball with friends. A surgical assistant in St. Louis at the time, he thought he was having a simple surgical procedure to repair the tear. After the procedure, he developed a severe staph infection. Throughout the next several months and after numerous unsuccessful surgeries, he had his right leg amputated above the knee. Four years later, he had his entire right leg removed from the hip joint.
After 38 surgeries and 12 years of combating illness, Roman is back on track. He is pursuing his dream of becoming a racecar driver and achieving his goal of being the world’s fastest hip disarticulation patient. Last year, Roman not only achieved that goal but he also established five new world land speed records.
