Podcast Summary:

From Amputation to the Paralympics: Stef Reid’s Story
Podcast: GPS: God. People. Stories.
Host: Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
Guest: Stef (Steph) Reid
Date: March 4, 2026

Overview

This episode centers on Stef Reid, a Paralympic athlete whose life was dramatically altered at age 15 by a boating accident that resulted in the amputation of her right foot. Through remarkable candor, Stef recounts her journey from devastation and loss to hope, faith, and athletic achievement on the world stage. The discussion focuses on finding meaning and purpose after loss, wrestling with deep questions of faith, perseverance, and discovering new dreams under God's guidance.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Early Life and Relationship with God

• Nomadic Childhood: Born in New Zealand to British parents, eventually settling in Toronto, Canada (01:49).
• Christian Education: Though not raised strictly Christian, her parents chose a Christian school for values and affordability (02:38).
  • "I didn't necessarily grow up in a Christian home. I definitely grew up in a home that appreciated a lot of the values." (02:01, Stef)
• Personal Faith: Stef knew about God but didn’t have a personal relationship. Hesitations about God’s plans for her life:
  • "...I kind of had this perception of God that he just has this habit of asking us to do stuff we don't want to do." (02:57, Stef)

2. Dreams of Athletic Success and the Accident

• Teenage Aspirations: Excelled in various sports, discovered rugby at 13; dreamed of a sports career (03:20–04:12).
• Life-Altering Accident: At 15, while tubing at a friend’s cottage, a boating mishap led to catastrophic injury from the propeller (05:03–06:37).
  • "I saw the boat coming directly towards me and I knew instantly something's wrong. He is coming way too fast." (00:00, Stef)
• Immediate Aftermath: Stef realized her grave situation — not only the physical trauma but her unpreparedness for eternity:
  • "...I thought I had more time. It never occurred to me that at 15, this might be it. And I was wildly unprepared. And I was scared." (08:02, Stef)

3. The Road to Survival and Reckoning with God

• Desperate Measures: Friends drive toward ambulance to save her life (08:38).
• First Honest Prayer: Prays for the first time, asking for another chance at life (09:07).
  • "God, I just... I would just really love it if you'd save my life and give me another chance just to live with my eyes more based in reality..." (09:07, Stef)
• Shock and Anger: Spared spinal damage but learns her right foot was amputated. Profound sense of loss; questions God’s motives and feels anger:
  • "God, like, why would you save my life and then take away the thing that I loved most?" (10:05, Stef)

4. Struggling with Grief and Finding Hope

• Depression and Withdrawal: Loss of hope, pain, and desire for isolation after the accident (11:08, Stef).
• Key Intervention – Nurse Claudette: A pivotal moment when a nurse speaks boldly, challenging Stef to move forward:
  • "Stephanie, it is time. It is time to move forward. Others have and you can too." (12:17, Nurse Claudette, quoted by Stef)
• Gradual Surrender: Stef opens her life to God, acknowledging her need for help and being willing to see where God leads (13:26).

5. Redefining Identity and Path

• Letting Go of Old Dreams: Realizes she is fundamentally the same person and looks to find new ways to channel her drive (14:13).
• Honest Prayer and Perspective Shift: Begins praying with open eyes, looking for new opportunities rather than expected answers (15:08).
  • "Maybe I need to just open my eyes a bit more and look around and just double check what might be on his radar because he's got a much better vantage point than I do." (15:08, Stef)

6. Return to Athletics and Paralympic Success

• Academic Pursuits: Earns full scholarship for biochemistry; initially aims to become a surgeon out of gratitude for her own surgeon's impact (16:21).
• Adaptive Sports Journey: With proper blade prosthetic and a supportive coach, rejoins competitive running (16:49–17:24).
• Paralympic Debut and Lessons: First Games in Beijing, 2008; initial disappointment (last place in long jump), but coach’s compassionate words shift her perspective:
  • "I am disappointed for you, I’m not disappointed in you." (19:01, Coach, quoted by Stef)
• Unexpected Triumph: In the 200m, a dramatic turn of events lands her a bronze medal—serving as a metaphor for faith and perseverance (19:33–21:19).
  • "I never would have been in the position to take my shot when all of the chaos kicked off at the front." (21:05, Stef)

7. New Setbacks, New Opportunities

• Injury and New Calling: Severe back injury in 2015 sidelines her, but leads to a newfound love for sports broadcasting—a fresh platform given by God (22:00–22:39).
  • "This awful thing happens... and it ended up being the start of my sports broadcasting career." (22:39, Stef)

8. Spiritual Lessons and Final Encouragement

• God’s True Promise: Through all seasons, Stef learns God’s central promise is His presence, not a trouble-free life or the fulfillment of all desires (23:32).
  • "God’s actual promise for me, for everybody, is that He will be with us." (23:32, Stef)
• Enduring Faith: Calls listeners to “expect the unexpected” when walking with God and to trust His higher perspective (26:34).
  • "If you're going to do life with God, expect the unexpected." (26:34, Stef)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Insight | |-----------|------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | Stef | “I saw the boat coming directly towards me and I knew instantly something's wrong. He is coming way too fast. He doesn't see me..." | | 03:39 | Stef | “That's when I'll get really serious about faith. That’s when I’ll give my life to God. But for now, I’m just going to kind of do my own thing...” | | 09:07 | Stef | “God, I just... I would just really love it if you'd save my life and give me another chance just to live with my eyes more based in reality...” | | 10:05 | Stef | “God, like, why would you save my life and then take away the thing that I loved most?...” | | 12:17 | Nurse (via Stef) | “Stephanie, it is time. It is time to move forward. Others have and you can too.” | | 13:26 | Stef | “I really don't like this life right now. And here you go, you have it. Maybe you can still do something awesome with it. I'll try, but I'm really going to need your help.” | | 15:08 | Stef | “Maybe I need to just open my eyes a bit more and look around and just double check what might be on his radar because he's got a much better vantage point than I do.” | | 19:01 | Coach (via Stef) | “Stephanie, I know this is hard, but I need you to know that while I am disappointed for you, I'm not disappointed in you.” | | 21:05 | Stef | “I was so proud of myself because had I not shown up at that start line, like, fully committed to doing my best and just rewriting those expectations, I never would have been in the position to take my shot..." | | 22:39 | Stef | “And you know, again, this awful thing happens which God is just kind of watching it. And in the end it ended up being the start of my sports broadcasting career.” | | 23:32 | Stef | “God’s actual promise for me, for everybody, is that he will be with us.” | | 26:34 | Stef | “If you're going to do life with God, expect the unexpected.... So yeah, that is both the draw and the warning for people. You know, God will move in big ways and so it's exciting but you know, be ready.” |

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• Stef’s Accident & Response: 00:00–06:37
• Survival, Prayer, and Amputation News: 07:11–10:05
• Nurse Claudette’s Intervention and Moving Forward: 11:55–13:49
• Letting Go and Reimagining Life: 14:13–15:39
• Return to Sports, College, and Blade Prosthetic: 16:05–17:41
• Beijing Paralympics and Bronze Medal: 17:56–21:25
• Broadcasting After Injury: 22:00–22:39
• Stef on God’s Promise and Final Wisdom: 23:32–27:00

Closing Reflection

Stef Reid’s story is a powerful testament to resilience, the ongoing wrestle with faith, and the unexpected new beginnings that can rise from deep loss. Throughout every heartbreak and surprising opportunity, Stef’s narrative points back to the central promise of her faith: not that hardships will be absent, but that God will walk with us through every high and low. Her journey challenges listeners to hold loosely to their own plans and remain open to divine redirection and greater possibilities.