Benefit offers Carson Valley girl a leg up

Lenna Fagan's first steps with her new prosthetic leg with the microprocessor knee were broadcast on KOLO-TV News about two weeks ago. The news coverage showed the Gardnerville girl getting instructions from prosthetist Rick Riley as she stood, sat and walked.

"You're not putting enough weight on the new leg, Lenna," Riley said.

There had to be a certain amount of trust the 14-year-old had to put in the new limb. Lenna walked down a flight of steps on the evening news.

When asked if it was scary for her to use a prosthesis for navigating stairs, Lenna, who was born with one leg, said, "Not at all. It was wonderful."

Lenna is going through a transition period with her leg. She didn't wear a prosthetic leg for almost four years so this new one will take some getting used to and she will gradually extend the hours of the day she can wear it.

"Sunday was a breakthrough and she wore it for several hours," said Lenna's mother Meredith Fagan. "The knee needs to be adjusted and no doubt it will be fixed. The technical part is a matter of getting things working.

"I'm so overwhelmed with gratitude for the community. There was such an outpouring of love and support. It seemed they just wanted Lenna to walk with the very best leg," she said.

Lenna's $47,500 leg was made possible through the efforts of many people, from Peter Axelson of Tools for Life, to prosthetist Rick Riley, to the Reno Rodeo Foundation, to the people of Lenna's church and community who helped contribute time and money for the Leg for Lenna benefit on Nov. 18.

"The Leg for Lenna benefit was a wonderful event," said Axelson. "The support from the community was not only financially successful, but also very encouraging for Lenna Fagan.

"We are hopeful that with additional monies that have been coming in that it will be possible for Tools for Life to provide support for other people in the Carson Valley who have needs for wheelchair seating and/or mobility equipment," he said.

From the beginning, the plan was any money over the amount needed for Lenna's leg would go toward Tools for Life, a Minden organization funded by Axelson to help provide adaptive seating and mobility equipment. The money raised will help people in Carson Valley.

Benefit organizer Denise Axelson said the event went better than expected.

"We received more than $5,000 before the benefit so my goal for that night was $10,000," she said.

The benefit netted at least $17,000 and Denise Axelson said $5,000 more has come in since.

"It's amazing how the community donated," she said. "It's neat to see how this small valley is so giving. The small businesses are so willing to give."

Hundreds of people attended the benefit at St. Gall Catholic Church that had silent auction and raffle items, entertainment and desserts provided by Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School's leadership class.