INSIDE EDITION meets Evan Ruggiero, the tap dancer who lost a leg but didn't let that stop him from reaching for his dream.
If you need proof that anything is possible, look no further than this young man.
His name is Evan Ruggiero. Dancing has been his passion ever since he was a boy growing up in Old Bridge, New Jersey.
It seemed that when it came to his performing career, the sky was the limit, until fate took a turn for the worse.
Ruggiero told INSIDE EDITION, "All of a sudden, I felt this pain in my right leg."
That was four years ago. The pain turned out to be cancer and Ruggiero was told the leg would have to be amputated.
"It was devastating. I didn't know what I was going to do," said Ruggiero.
But he made a vow to his doctor.
"I told him, 'I promise you, I'm going to tap dance again.'"
He kept his word. Earlier this year, he auditioned as a singer on American Idol, and though he didn't get through, the judges were wowed by his courage.
Mariah Carey said, "You have inspired me and encouraged me as a human being, so thank you."
Ruggiero's mom, Gina, puts it best when she said, "He's incredible! He's absolutely incredible!"
What's next for this 22-year-old dancer? Let's just say the best is yet to come.
"Hopefully I'll prove myself to everyone that I'm the real deal," said Ruggiero.
