John McCurdy / Photo by Dave Yochum

July 16. By Dave Yochum. The first thing you notice about John McCurdy is his boyish grin, even at 50 years old. Next you’re going to notice his prosthetic arms and prosthetic legs—all four of his limbs are gone.

With an amazing level of grit and determination—and tireless support from family, friends and neighbors—the long-time Cornelius resident got back in his beloved home in Heritage Green in April.

It has a large new main level all-tile bathroom and shower to accommodate one of the special wheelchairs he has for those without arms or legs.

His mother, who lost her husband suddenly during John’s recovery, stays upstairs in a bedroom, but she’s ready to get back to her own home.

“All I have to do is say hey I’m ready to work….work from home, based on the 26-year relationship I have with White Cap Construction Supply in Charlotte,” McCurdy said. Right now he’s on disability, but he plans to re-learn how to drive a car and visit his clients in person.

He’s working on reducing in-home paid assistance to four hours a day.

Background

His limbs were amputated to prioritize blood flow to his brain and heart after infections, sepsis and septic shock caused multiple organs to fail in September. Apparently an infection began in his defibrillator. An ICU nurse told his mother, Alice Rullman, that John was “not going to make it.”

His medical team took his arms and legs in October. They had turned black with decay; he had a fierce infection in his lungs as well.

McCurdy’s had cerebral palsy since birth. Despite walking with a limp he never got a handicap license plate.

He’s beloved by his clients, some of whom visited him in the hospital. One customer came by his house to visit.

Keys to success

Just like in sales, the key to success in life is a good attitude and celebrating successes. For McCurdy successes include opening the microwave with his prosthetic arms and hands.

His new prosthetic legs are two inches longer than his old ones, getting him back to his normal, pre-amputation height.

“I have a great attitude,” he says, more or less stating the obvious.

“Why be miserable? I could be miserable for 40 years with prosthetics or embrace the opportunities given to me. It’s either that or just be pissed off.”

You have a choice.

Team McCurdy

“I’m 50 and I have a long way to live. I have a choice here,” he says, with that big smile.

And he doesn’t want to let the team down.

“I’ve had so many people who have encouraged me, prayed for me, it would be a slap in the face,” McCurdy says.

When he made his way back into Lake Norman Lutheran Church in Denver on his own steam, the congregation, which paid for an upright walker, applauded.

The UNC-Charlotte graduate is still an elder at the church.

“I do miss my old life, a little bit, but I still have people who love me…kind of gives me a better appreciation for friends…it just takes me longer to do things now,” he says.