Dan Gropper was in an apartment fire on December 10, 1989, and was burned 78% of his body. He spent 6 months in the burn unit and a year in rehab at Nassau County Medical Center. Due to infections, he lost both of his hands, below the elbow, and his legs above the knee. He went back to Hofstra University after he got out of the hospital, and graduated with high honors a B.B.A. in finance. He has gone skydiving, box, golf, workout, go to concerts, games, and travel.