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Sunday, December 29, 2002

First published June 9, 2002
By Matt Freed

Karen Herman of South Fayette, who nearly died of bacterial meningitis and was forced to have multiple amputations in May 1998, stands on prosthetic legs for the first time with help from physical therapist assistant Bob Brunn and prosthetist Judy Wagner. Freed: "I first met Karen when I was photographing her for a Health section story on meningitis. She seemed like such an amazing woman, and when she mentioned she was going to get prosthetic legs, I knew there was more to her story. I think I was as nervous as she was at this moment -- it was the first time she was able to stand in almost a year. It was a feeling of relief for me and a joyous moment for her." The story.