Ariel Needs New Prosthetic Legs!!

On September 29th, 2016, Dallas resident Ariel Berkowitz was in a tragic train accident that resulted in the loss of both of his legs; one above knee and one below knee amputation. He was 19 years old at the time and was surrounded by family and friends as he woke up in the hospital from the trauma. Ariel was grateful that he was alive and was focused on making a strong recovery which would involve learning how to walk with prosthetic legs. He now had to go through a long process of physical therapy training and adapt to his new way of life as a double amputee.

Ariel now had to overcome many obstacles on a daily basis such as moving around with a wheelchair and using the bathroom properly. As time went on, he became adapted to to his new life; his commitment and consistency finally payed off when he was fitted for his first prosthetic legs in May 2017. By August 2017 he was in community college and went from walking with forearm crutches to walking totally unassisted.

He eventually transferred to UNT Dallas and graduated in May 2023 with a Bachelors of Science in Biology. This was a huge milestone for Ariel and he was now looking forward to pursuing a career in prosthetics to help other amputees.

Ariel attributes his continuous progress to God and adamantly believes that it’s a miracle that he’s alive today. He has always had a strong faith in God and has recently connected deeply with his Jewish roots. He prays multiple times a day and studies Torah everyday as well. He says that this helps him stay positive and optimistic about his current situation and the future. Ariel has also been extremely appreciative of everyone who has supported him along his journey.

Ariel has been in need of a new pair of legs for over a year as his previous legs don’t fit him anymore. This has caused him many problems which has decreased his mobility, and has impacted the overall health of his limbs. It’s been very difficult for him to get around like he used to and he has also dealt with pain and discomfort due to the poor fit. His prosthetic knee is also towards the end of its life and has caused problems that have adversely affected his walking gait. He is seeking a way to receive new legs at a prosthetics clinic called Dream Team Prosthetics that specializes in young active individuals with above knee amputations. He believes that this clinic can push him to the next level and help him reach his full potential as an amputee. The cost for prosthetics is very high and his insurance does not cover the costs for the new setup he needs.

With your help, Ariel can start the fitting process for his new legs and once again walk around with confidence, comfort, and increased mobility. With this new setup, Ariel will also have a chance to continue his pursuit of a career in prosthetics and biological sciences. He also has aspirations of running and snowboarding one day, but of course we first want him to have good fitting, comfortable legs that he can walk with in his everyday life.

You can be the one to push Ariel to the next level on his journey; with God’s help!!!

Any donation can go a long way.

Help Ariel today!