Could Tango or Cha Cha really make you cry?
If you’ve tuned into Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars to watch 2X Paralympic gold medalist and world record holder Ezra Frech take the dance floor, you just might understand how a dance could bring you to tears.
At just 21 years old, Ezra has already built an incredible legacy. Week after week, he has stepped onto the dance floor, bringing the same determination and excellence that made him a world-class athlete.
Born with a congenital limb difference, Ezra has spent his life pushing boundaries and expanding the world’s understanding of what is possible. Now, he’s bringing that message to millions of viewers through Dancing with the Stars.
His story is a powerful reminder that the value of each life should never be measured by what the world thinks is possible. Every life is precious and worth celebrating.
Ezra’s Diagnosis at Birth
When Ezra Frech was born, his congenital limb difference came as a complete shock to his parents, Bahar Soomekh and Clayton Frech. With no prenatal diagnosis, Bahar and Clayton discovered at birth, that life for their son would be different than other kids his age. Their son was born missing four fingers on his left hand, along with his left knee and shin bone, which caused his leg to curve toward his waist.
They named him Ezra, a name meaning “helper” or “teacher.” And in many ways, that is exactly what he would become, using his life to teach the world what is possible.
Born with a Disability, Living Without Limitations
Bahar and Clayton Frech have never let this disability limit their son. At 11 months old, Ezra Frech wasn’t slowing down. He received his first prosthetic leg to help him move around. A year and a half later, he underwent major surgery, which removed his lower left leg and transplanted a toe onto his left hand.
Ezra Frech doesn’t shy away from the challenges he’s faced. He admits there were dark times as a child, being different and learning to adapt to his disabilities. But his incredible attitude and courage to push past adversity are what got him where he is today.
“When situations don’t go our way, we have the opportunity to either continue down a road of sadness or sulking in a dark place, or you can flip your mindset and make the best of the situation.” — Ezra Frech, Life of Significance interview
His resilience reminds us that a life that begins with hardship can grow into something extraordinary.
Support from His Mom and Dad
Ezra credits his parents with instilling in him a confidence that he could pursue whatever he set his mind to.
That confidence began at home, where his mom, Bahar, taught him from a young age not to be afraid of sharing his story.
“My confidence in public settings is a direct product of the work that my mom invested in me since I was very little. She is the only reason that I’m able to speak with conviction and confidence and articulate my thoughts and how I’m feeling. It’s because she taught me to not be afraid of sharing my story.”
Today, Ezra uses that same encouragement to help others discover what is possible for them.
Angel City Sports
Ezra’s father, Clayton, founded Angel City Sports, a nonprofit that gives children, adults, and veterans with physical disabilities and visual impairments opportunities to participate in adaptive sports.
What began with Ezra’s parents believing in what their son could do has grown into an opportunity to help others experience that same belief for themselves.
Every Life is Precious
Every year, an estimated 7.9 million babies are born worldwide with serious birth defects. Behind that number are real lives, each with its own story, potential, and purpose. Some will face significant medical challenges, and some may never have the opportunity to grow up because of natural causes or abortion.
Ezra Frech’s story reminds us that we cannot determine what someone’s life will look like based on a diagnosis at or before birth.
Now, Ezra is a world-record holder, a 2X Paralympic Gold Medalist, and a fierce competitor on season 35 of Dancing with the Stars, but his story began much earlier. Before his amazing accomplishments, he was a baby whose parents received an unexpected diagnosis.
With their support, Ezra continues to prove that every life, no matter how it begins, is precious.
