If any of you watched Larry King on Tuesday, Jan.25th, you will have noticed his alarming news of patients with amputations and missing limbs due to being crushed in the earthqake.Larry King invited guest Heather Mills, who also lost a limb in a car accident in 1993. She is a charity activist, with United Nations good will ambassador. She is working with Physicians for Peace and she is urging people to donate their old prosthetic, crutches and wheelchairs to the people of Haiti. She also talked about about the medical and mental support needed by the amputees during the coming weeks and years.
Having lived in a family with a member who has lost a limb, has a significant impact on all of us. ( I have witnessed first hand what it means to be able to have doctors provide the right comfort, fitting of limbs and providing emotional support. Every few years, a new limb is needed. Without this limb he could never have farmed...He now has the C_Leg (completely computerized) It has provided him with so many new opportunities and yet fulfilled his dream of farming with technology. The reason I share this story, passionately, is because with out the the medical support, he would not have been able to have continued to financially provide for his family. Hopefully this encourages all of us to keep giving unconditionally to the support of Haiti. All I know, is, that it's a long road........
(he lost his limb due to a farming accident 39 years ago)
Imagine 200,000 people having lost limbs.
How can one ever bring them back into the work world?
Keeping the wound clean.
Keeping the dressing clean.
Follow up care is important.
As I sifted through my photos this past week, I was once again reminded and totally amazed to see how my own children have learned to cope and adjust to their father's limitations. He loves to swim, ski, and cycle as his recreational activities. I found this photo...and could not help but share this information with you. It seems so appropriate at this time.
On one of Suzanne's science projects in Grade 6 she chose the theme...."A New Walk in Life" and demonstrated the use of prosthetic limbs to the students in her class. She showed them how they functioned and how one could continue to make a difference in life regarding physical limitations.
Would you believe that twenty years later, she, now being a school teacher has her father come annually to her class, bringing along his limbs, showing the students how the limbs function and then she has the students interview him. This is a hands on object lesson for all the students. This is something most of them never forget. Guess what John is doing the first week of February?
Once again, off to her class, bringing the awareness of living life with limitations.
If he can do it, I'm sure that by our continued support to Haiti, we can give life support to many other people who have lost limbs by amputation during the recent earthquake.
Did you notice one thing? She is wearing pink....that's a first.
(he lost his limb due to a farming accident 39 years ago)
Imagine 200,000 people having lost limbs.
How can one ever bring them back into the work world?
Keeping the wound clean.
Keeping the dressing clean.
Follow up care is important.
As I sifted through my photos this past week, I was once again reminded and totally amazed to see how my own children have learned to cope and adjust to their father's limitations. He loves to swim, ski, and cycle as his recreational activities. I found this photo...and could not help but share this information with you. It seems so appropriate at this time.
On one of Suzanne's science projects in Grade 6 she chose the theme...."A New Walk in Life" and demonstrated the use of prosthetic limbs to the students in her class. She showed them how they functioned and how one could continue to make a difference in life regarding physical limitations.Would you believe that twenty years later, she, now being a school teacher has her father come annually to her class, bringing along his limbs, showing the students how the limbs function and then she has the students interview him. This is a hands on object lesson for all the students. This is something most of them never forget. Guess what John is doing the first week of February?
Once again, off to her class, bringing the awareness of living life with limitations.
If he can do it, I'm sure that by our continued support to Haiti, we can give life support to many other people who have lost limbs by amputation during the recent earthquake.
Did you notice one thing? She is wearing pink....that's a first.
A few weeks ago, John had to go into the city to have some adjustments made on his limb. One of the technicians showed us her limb. I could not believe that she could actually wear heals.
They have been able to make the prosthetics look so natural. She was so proud of her limb and here's a close up...
Is that a French manicure? Yes, in the summer she runs around in her sandals. Can you distinguish which is the real foot? They have come along way in designing and creating prosthetics to take on the real image of one's particular skin tones and foot measurements.My other daughter is working as an Occupational Therapist. I remember way back when she was small....She said, "I want to help people like my dad, learn to walk." And that is exactly what she is doing. She loves her work and helps patients find new ways to develop new dreams.
I'm fascinated by watching and reading stories of the paralympic athletes. They have achieved remarkable results in their sports and private lives. There are over 1,350 athletes participating in the Paralympic Winter Games.
I'm sure that as we watch the paralympics we will become aware of many limitations, and yet the hope of each one to dream and reach their goals becomes so evident.
"If my dreams can happen to me, your dreams can happen to you. Champions are not made on the track or field; champions are made by the things you accomplish and the way you use your abilities in everyday life situations." Bob Beamon
