Mets, Hospital Help to Fulfill Lifelong Dream of Queens Teen, A Double Amputee

The Forum—June 12, 2014

For 16-year-old Queens native and die-hard Mets fan James Lozano, being born without legs has never been a roadblock to accomplishing his dreams.

And, recently, one of Lozano’s lifelong dreams of running the bases and taking batting practice at Citi Field was fulfilled thanks to the Mets’ All-Star third baseman David Wright and the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in Manhattan.

Dr. Daniel Green, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at HSS who has monitored Lozano’s progress for the past 15 years, said that Lozano has a fantastic attitude.

Green said that HSS was fortunate to have patient like Lozano, who will come in and talk with families and individuals about what it will be like to have an amputation and also what it will be like to have and use artificial legs.

For Lozano’s part, he said that he has never felt his prosthetics got in the way of doing anything. Lozano was recently awarded two medals from his school—one for baseball and one for varsity wrestling. The athletic teen has also completed a few triathlons.
“He has told me in the past that he always looks forward and never looks back,” Green said.

Moreover, Green called Lozano “One of the most spiritual young men I have met. It’s an honor to watch him grow up through the years.”

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