Why me? 
Smith has been strapping on a lacrosse helmet for just two years.
Photo by Louis Lopez
Chandler doesn’t talk much about living with a disability. That’s because, “I don’t really know any different,” he said.
There are inconveniences to be sure, like having to remove his prosthetic every day to sleep and shower. Or making regular 90-minute trips to Shriners Hospital for Children in Los Angeles to get fitted for a new prosthetic.
But he’s certainly not complaining about that. Insurance covers only $1,500 a year for an above-the-knee titanium prosthetic that costs more than $30,000.
“They consider it durable medical equipment like a wheelchair or crutches,” Richard Smith said. “Ridiculous.”
Shriners, known as "The World's Greatest Philanthropy," donates all its equipment and services for free.
“Thank goodness for the Shriners,” Richard said. “If they didn’t exist, frankly I don’t know what we’d do. Maybe whittling away at a wooden leg.
“If we ever win the lottery, a huge donation is going to Shriners.”
Chandler’s medical experiences have largely been pain free, except when his stump began to bow as a sixth-grader. Surgery was required and doctors had to break the stump.
“Bringing him home and lifting him to the couch wasn’t much fun,” Richard said. “He’d scream in pain and say ‘Don’t touch me.’ It was hard to know what to do.”
The pain subsided within a week and Chandler was confined to a wheelchair for a month.
“That was definitely painful,” Chandler said. “It was hard.”
Other than that, you won't hear a hint of remorse, regret or “what if” in Chandler. Even when pushed on the point.
Smith has to remove his prosthetictwice each day - once before showeringand once before sleep.
Photo by Louis Lopez
“I guess there are some things I would change,” he said. “But I really don’t know what it would be like to have a right leg. I don’t even know if I’d like it. For me, I’m used to it and I like to push myself.”
Isn’t it hard to talk about?
“It makes me happy that people want to know about my leg,” he said. “I like when they ask. Then I can talk about it and get it out, instead of people just staring at me.”
But hasn’t he ever wondered ‘why me?’ After a very long pause, Chandler said: “I don’t think so.”
Really? No?
“No,” he said.
Even when kids were cruel? Chandler paused, thought again and shook his head again.
What was the cruelest thing a kid or teenager ever said or did?
“Honestly,” he said. “No one has ever been cruel. Not that I know of. … I’ve honestly been treated with nothing but kind words, with love and care. People have always just wanted me to be happy. All I’ve ever had is happiness.”
In an age when bullying and teenage angst appears to be so prevalent, those are refreshing words. But Kay says what goes around, comes around and that Chandler is just one of those kids you can’t help but like and root for. Around the city’s prominent mall, his parents say, kids constantly yell out Chandler's name.
And it has nothing to do with him missing a limb.
“He’s quiet and thoughtful and one of the sweetest kids I know,” Kay said. “He never does or says anything mean to anyone.
“I feel like he goes by the phase 'If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say it at all.'"
