Living Life One Step at a Time

On November 26, 2008, the day before Thanksgiving, Chuck Evans was at work, counting down the hours until the holiday, while troubleshooting multiple issues with the conveyer belt system that had been acting up all day.

With a single misstep, his life was changed forever.

Chuck became caught in the conveying system, his right foot pulled in as a 2,000-pound roll of paper moved toward him. As he tried to reposition himself to avoid falling, his left foot landed on the equipment and was instantly crushed. Within moments, Chuck’s life was hanging in the balance.

He was air lifted to Erlanger Hospital, where he spent the next several weeks undergoing intensive trauma care. Over that time, Chuck endured eight surgeries, including the amputation of both legs above the knee.

Chuck with his four children while at Siskin Hospital

Soon after, Chuck was transferred to Siskin Hospital to start his physical rehabilitation. He still remembers the first time crossing the bridge that connects Erlanger and Siskin Hospital—a short distance that marked the beginning of a long and uncertain journey.

“I’m a dad of four kids, and I was trying to keep a brave face,” Chuck recalls. “But I was terrified.”

During his inpatient stay, Chuck encountered a moment that would change his outlook forever. He read the story of Jordan Thomas, a former Siskin Hospital patient who had lost both legs in a boating accident as a teenager. Not long after, Jordan visited Chuck, offering encouragement only a fellow amputee can.

“This kid comes strolling in on prosthetic limbs, and you can hardly tell,” Chuck says. “I told myself then, if he can do it, I can do it.”

Chuck spent close to a month in inpatient rehabilitation at Siskin Hospital, working tirelessly to regain his independence, just beginning to stand with maximum assistance on one prosthetic leg when he discharged home.

He then continued his recovery with Siskin Outpatient Therapy in Cleveland, Tennessee. Drawing on his athletic background and strong work ethic, Chuck pushed himself each day. By the end of February, just months after his accident, he was walking with the assistance of crutches using his prosthetic legs.

Chuck sharing his story.

As Chuck rebuilt his strength, he also discovered a new sense of purpose. A former colleague invited him to lunch and encouraged him to share his story. That conversation led to Chuck speaking in front of hundreds of safety managers and union leaders in the paper industry and has only continued to grow his clientele.

Today, Chuck travels across the country sharing his story with companies and organizations, emphasizing that workplace safety must always come first. He has spoken in 39 states, and recently Canada, turning his personal tragedy into a powerful message that helps protect others.

“I’ve been extremely blessed,” Chuck says. “I was the guy who worked himself to the ground. Once I could separate myself from that, I got a better perspective on relationships and what’s truly important.”

Outside of work, Chuck has continued to embrace life in new and unexpected ways. Wanting to stay active, he began going to the YMCA in Cleveland to walk on the treadmill. It was there that he met Dana, a special education teacher and yoga instructor at the gym. Over time, friendship turned into love, and today Dana and Chuck have celebrated five years of marriage.

With Dana by his side, Chuck continued building his endurance, and eventually started to run again. In the spring of 2024, he crossed the finish line of his first 5K since his accident, with Dana running alongside him, cheering him on every step of the way. He jokes that his golf game is better now than it ever was before his accident, and yoga has become a regular part of his routine.

In July 2025, Chuck faced yet another health challenge when he underwent quadruple bypass surgery. Once again, he leaned on the same resilience and determination that carried him through his recovery years earlier. Today, he is steadily rebuilding his strength and stamina, keeping active and enjoying the life that he almost lost.