04/13/2026
Meet Ira Black 🧡
Ira's journey with limb loss began not too long ago. Through it all, he's shown incredible resilience and determination.
As a lifelong gamer and now a game designer, Ira has always believed in the power of cooperation over competition. He loves creating games that bring people together – and he brings that same collaborative spirit into his real life as well.
After complications from a leg surgery, Ira had to make the incredibly hard decision to amputate. The early months were tough. Balancing on one leg, navigating the house, taking a shower safely, even carrying a glass of water while on crutches -- everything became a puzzle to solve. Emotionally, the hardest part was suddenly needing help with almost everything.
But step by step, Ira adapted. He reorganized his home, learned new strategies, and leaned on the people who supported him – especially his prosthetist, Jake, at Great Steps.
Ira learned to walk confidently surprisingly fast and jokes that “maybe I was always meant to be a pirate.” Nine months after his amputation, he went golfing for the first time. “I wasn’t good before, and I’m still not good now – but I did it, and that mattered more than any score.”
His waterproof “shower leg” has also been a total game changer. He can swim again and get in and out of the shower without turning his bathroom into a “suction-cup obstacle course.” He’s also joined a gym and is learning what his body can do again – and how to push those limits safely.
Ira’s advice:
“Don’t be discouraged. Focus on what you can do. Be realistic but be persistent. And don’t be afraid to brainstorm with the people around you.”
Please join us in celebrating Ira’s resilience, humor, and constant determination. 💙
Drop a supportive comment below or share this post to help lift others up.
“Mindset is Everything” – and Ira proved it by running for the first time since his amputation. Cheer him on in the comments! 👏🔥
