On a regular basis, Heart of a Lion will profile individual children and adults from all walks of life who have displayed unusual determination and courage, kindness and generosity. These are people, in other words, who have clearly displayed a Heart of a Lion. They are, of course, Champions Off the Field.

Real Bravery
The Stephen Marika Story

May 29, 1997 will always be a date of special significance for the Marika family of Poway, California. After his mom and dad went to work (at the San Diego Zoo and at a hotel chain landscaping department), Stephen, then 12 years-old, hopped on his bike for a short ride to Meadowbrook Middle School.

On the way through a busy intersection, the pretty spring day turned into a total nightmare. An 18-wheel moving van driver failed to see Stephen and the two collided. Stephen survived the accident, but his left foot and ankle were crushed.

In the ensuing days, physicians at Children's Hospital in San Diego tried everything from microsurgery to hyperbaric tank healing, but to no avail. Stephen's mother, Diane recalls, "We wanted to do anything to make him better. The foot was just pulling his whole system down." "We prayed like crazy," adds Mike, Stephen's father. "It got kind of scary for us." But the family, including Stephen's younger brother Kevin, pulled together. Co-workers, Stephen's friends and teachers at school, and his baseball and wrestling buddies, all provided strength, time and support. "We are truly blessed to live is such a wonderful community," says Diane. "You wouldn't want to experience this sort of thing by yourself."


And so, the Marikas and the doctors decided that Stephen's foot needed to be amputated. The surgery, known as a Symes amputation, took into account Stephen's growth plate and other factors associated with his age.

What couldn't be known was how Stephen's bravery and determination would help him heal and renew his active, athletic life.

Along the way to recovery, there were many milestones, from Stephen being able to get himself on his own to the bathroom, to being able to climb stairs on his crutches, to the major turning point, three months after the accident, being fitted for a prosthesis with a foot equal to his activity level.

Stephen, after a summer of visits from his friends, a Padres game and other limited activities, went back to school and received a huge welcome. "We were so relieved," says Mike.

With a physician's letter to excuse him from P.E. class, Stephen could have stayed on the sidelines and felt sorry for himself about his situation, but he'd have none of that. "The important thing was to keep a positive attitude," says Stephen.

Heeding his own advice, Stephen returned to his two great sporting pleasures: wrestling and baseball. Competing in the 104 lb. division, Stephen became a 1998 Mid-Season Champion in San Diego/Imperial County Kids' Wrestling Association and won the Poway Slammers' Coach's Trophy for leadership, sportsmanship and performance. Later on, he rejoined his Little League team, the Orioles, as the starting catcher.

Says one of his coaches: "Stephen was a real inspiration to our team. Even when he couldn't play (because a staph infection and normal growth forced him to be fitted for his second prosthesis), he'd come out on his crutches and cheer the team on.

For sure, Stephen is a real inspiration to anyone who must overcome a serious challenge. "You just have to try to forget it when you get down," advises Stephen, who now is thinking about becoming a doctor.

First, though, there are some more opponents to pin and base runners to throw out stealing. This is one kid you don't want to challenge too much.