DocMiami International Film Festival

The Wayman Tisdale Story' gives a detailed account of the life of former basketball star and jazz musician, Wayman Tisdale. Told through his own words in two exclusive interviews captured in May of 2009, Tisdale leads a journey through his own life story, from his childhood as a preacher's son to his recent battle with cancer that led to the amputation of his right leg. Tisdale's life approach of compassion, courage, and optimism is embodied in this program. While walking down the stairs of his home in Los Angeles, Tisdale fell and broke his leg. As doctors at UCLA ordered X-rays of every bone in Tisdale's body, they wondered how a former pro athlete, who had never broken a bone in twenty years, could so easily shatter his leg. Eight weeks later, the doctors called him with the news: he had cancer. Several operations and two rounds of chemotherapy followed. In order to prevent the cancer from spreading to other parts of his body, Tisdale had part of his right leg amputated in August of 2008. As an athlete who was once one of the world's most gifted leapers, Tisdale was now presented with a debilitating condition. Through his faith, music, and positive outlook on life, Tisdale was able to effectively look past his own condition and direct his energy towards helping others through The Wayman Tisdale Foundation. The foundation was established to assist individuals in need of prosthetic limbs who cannot afford them.