Lana Soper was a resident of Grantville, and a member of the burgeoning Pentecostal movement that arose after the Ring of Fire. Lana's mother had been given a prescription for Thalidomide while pregnant. As a result, Soper had been born with toes but no legs or feet, and flippers with finger nubs instead of arms and hands. She met Reverend John Chalker through his wife Helen, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease while hospitalized at the Manning Assisted Living Center, and had greatly helped in comforting its patients. Soper became something of an adopted surrogate daughter to the Chalkers.