From India to the Moon: Solo's Journey with His Forever Family and Shriners Children's

Curt and his wife, Caroline, always knew they wanted to grow their family through adoption.

What they didn't know was that their journey would lead them to a young boy in India whose future would be transformed through the care of Shriners Children's.

Rooted in their faith, the couple felt drawn to India, where special needs adoption opportunities aligned with their desire to provide a child with a loving home. When they received information about 3-year-old Solomon, they learned he had been waiting for a family for a long time.

"When we got Solomon's file, we realized it had actually been rejected seven times," Curt said. "So, we knew that he was waiting for us as his forever family."

Before bringing Solomon, affectionately known as Solo, home to the United States, Curt and Caroline began researching the medical care he might need. Born with tibial hemimelia, Solo was born with both legs but lacked most of the bones below his knees. He also has bilateral hand clefts and is missing several bones in his hands.

As they consulted specialists, one recommendation surfaced again and again.

"One of the consistent things we heard was you need to go to Shriners," Curt said.

Finding the Right Fit

After arriving in the United States, Solo's family visited Shriners Children's Lexington for the first time. Curt immediately felt they had found the right place.

"There was just a connection,” Curt said. “There was a care that they had for not just Solo, but for us as parents."

Facing complex medical decisions while raising Solo and their two young daughters, Curt and Caroline appreciated how the care team supported the entire family. What stood out most was the team's long-term approach.

"The thing we love about Shriners is that they were thinking and are thinking long term for Solo," Curt said. "They're thinking long term for us as parents about things that we don't have the capacity to think about when our child is 3."

Navigating Difficult Decisions

From the beginning, the family knew surgery would likely be part of Solo's future. Initial discussions focused on reconstruction, but over time, the conversation shifted to amputation with prosthetic reconstruction.

Like many families facing major medical decisions, they heard advice from all directions. "There are a lot of opinions that fly around," Curt said. "Everyone wants to share their thoughts about what is best for your child."

Throughout the process, Curt said the Shriners Children's team never pressured them and helped the family evaluate all the information and make informed decisions. "What we really appreciated about Shriners was they welcomed that, and they wanted to hear what we were hearing, and they were able to walk us through, 'Hey, why don't you think about this in regard to what you just said or what you just heard?'"

Ultimately, that support gave the family confidence. "As a parent, you never really think you're going to be making a decision like this," Curt said. "But when the situation presented itself, it was great to have a place like Shriners to help you make it in the right way."

One of the individuals who helped the family weigh all their options was Janet Walker, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon with more than 35 years of experience working with children with limb differences.

“For families like Solo’s, the decision to pursue amputations is never made lightly. It is a deeply personal choice that follows careful evaluation of the child’s anatomy, functional potential, and long-term quality of life,” said Dr. Walker. “In Solo’s case, the family demonstrated remarkable thoughtfulness and courage, focusing on the option they felt offered him the best opportunity for mobility, independence and participation in everyday activities. Our role as physicians is to provide expertise and guidance, but ultimately to support families as they make the choice they believe is best for their child and their family.”

On Feb. 8, 2022, Solo underwent bilateral through-the-knee amputations performed as a dual surgery by Shriners Children’s Lexington physicians Walker and Vincent Prusick, M.D., in collaboration with Golisano Children's at UK.

More Than New Legs

The next step, both proverbially and literally, for Solo was healing and then working with the in-house Pediatric Orthotic and Prosthetic Services (POPS) department at Shriners Children's Lexington.

“Without his prosthetic legs, everyday movement would have been much more difficult for Solomon,” said Eric Miller, manager of POPS and Solo’s prosthetic specialist at Shriners Children's Lexington. “They give him the ability to walk naturally and help him reach a height that feels right for him. Beyond the physical benefits, that can make a big difference in a child’s self-esteem, confidence and social experiences. Most importantly, they help him fully participate in the activities he loves.”

Over the years, the family has celebrated a variety of prosthetic designs including Mickey Mouse patterns, dinosaurs and, most recently, the University of Tennessee Volunteers logo.

For Solo, what this means to him is straightforward: “I love Shriners because they give me new legs.”

With prosthetic legs, Solo began doing things that once seemed out of reach. "All of a sudden, he is now able to run with his sisters down the driveway," Curt said. "He's able to participate when he normally wouldn't and his confidence was building."

For the family, each milestone feels remarkable. "It's as if Shriners gave us the ability to have a front row seat to this visual transformation of our son," Curt said.

Recently, Solo, now 7, reached another milestone. Asked what he had done for the first time that week, he proudly replied: "I can walk down the stairs without holding the railing."

"Things are shifting. He is walking a little bit faster now,” Curt said. “He's really understanding how his legs work. That makes it all worth it."

Over time, Solo has learned to embrace his prosthetics as part of who he is. "We've just learned a couple statements of things to respond with, and that has really helped build his confidence," Curt said.

When people ask about his legs, Solo often responds with humor. He likes to show them off and when asked what happened to his legs, he has a playful response: "I didn't eat my fruits and vegetables."

A Family Transformation

It is this sense of humor and changes that extend well beyond physical abilities that have the family so pleased with the care. Solo’s prosthetics have brought far more than just improved mobility. According to Curt, one of the most meaningful changes has been watching his son's confidence flourish.

"This was changing Solomon," he said. "There was a transformation of his personality as well."

When Solo first joined the family, Curt said he was extremely shy. Having spent much of his early life in a single-room environment, he needed time to adjust to a busy household with siblings.

But as he progressed through surgery, rehabilitation and prosthetic care, Solo's confidence steadily grew. "As the appointments came on with prosthetics, you could just see his smile changing," Curt said. "His smile, his confidence."

Solo became more engaged with his sisters, his church community and the world around him. His family also encouraged independence in simple ways. "One of the things we told him is you can't go play outside unless you have your legs on," Curt said.

Looking Ahead

The family recently entered a new chapter as they prepared to spend multiple years abroad in Italy doing missionary work. While the move brought excitement, it also raised questions about how Solo's care would continue.

Curt remembers sharing those concerns with the Shriners Children's team and saying, “I think we're moving to Italy. Are we crazy?”

Instead of uncertainty, they found reassurance and support. "Our care team was visiting us during that appointment,” Curt said. “On a day when we came to Shriners feeling so uncertain and nervous, we left completely at peace.”

The family plans to return to the United States for follow-up appointments while managing many day-to-day prosthetic needs abroad.

Dreams for the Future

When Curt imagines Solo's future, he sees possibilities. Some of Solo's dreams are already inspired by the people who have helped him along the way. "He wants to build prosthetic legs. He wants to work at the University of Kentucky,” Curt said. “He wants to come be at Shriners. He wants to be like Mr. Eric."

For Dr. Walker, it has been amazing to see the journey from the beginning and envision the bright future ahead. “One of the most rewarding parts of caring for children is seeing the progress they make during their care journey. Watching Solo grow, adapt to his prosthetics, and achieve milestones that once seemed far away has been impressive,” Dr. Walker said. “Solo’s determination, combined with the amazing support of his wonderful family, has opened the door to tremendous opportunities for his life. I am excited to see all the things he will accomplish as he continues to grow.”

Above all, Curt hopes his son achieves whatever his heart desires. "I want Solo to be whoever God created him to be," he said. "And I believe that Shriners is giving him the opportunity to do that."

And if Solo has anything to say about it, his future may reach even farther. When asked what he wants to do when he grows up, his answer came without hesitation: "Go to the moon."

For a boy whose journey has already carried him halfway around the world, it might not be such a far-fetched dream after all.