We are deeply moved to share the powerful testimony of Josh Troyer, a remarkable Paley Institute patient whose journey exemplifies strength, faith, and transformation.
Born with proximal femoral focal deficiency (PFFD), Josh was missing his right femur. At just two years old, he underwent a rotationplasty performed by Dr. Dror Paley — a complex and highly specialized procedure in which the leg is amputated at the hip, rotated 180 degrees, and reattached so the ankle can function as a knee joint. This allows for much better mobility and prosthetic control than a traditional amputation.
At age four, Josh returned to Dr. Paley for additional limb lengthening using the Ilizarov device, a challenging process that involved external fixation and months of gradual bone lengthening.
While the surgeries gave Josh functional mobility, his greatest battle was internal. As a child and teenager, he struggled with his identity, self-worth, and the label of being “the cripple boy.” Through the unwavering faith of his parents and his own personal encounter with God, Josh began to see his story differently.
Today, Josh is a licensed pilot, a pastor, and a devoted father of three boys. He openly shares how God used his limb difference and the challenges he faced under Dr. Paley’s care to shape his character, deepen his compassion, and draw him closer to Christ.
We are incredibly proud of Josh and honored to have been part of his medical journey. Josh’s story continues to inspire not only our team at the Paley Institute but everyone who hears it.
