Newsletter
Volume 10 Issue 8 August 2015
The August 10th meeting was held at Spring Creek BBQ in Richardson and there were 56 attendees. Jeanna Scott made name badges and provided dinner coupons. After dinner M.C.Steve Kerper welcomed everyone to the meeting, especially newbies, Roy Williams and Keith Morris.
Randy Mecca introduced his mother, Ruth, who recently celebrated her 90th birthday here in Dallas. His sister, Lorraine, was visiting from New Zealand as well. Two of our most loyal sponsors, Gary Strobel and Amy Mehary, came to talk about the proposed changes to Medicare which would affect all amputees, limiting coverage for the prosthetics so crucial to quality of life. David Boomstein also spoke about his problems with insurance and told everyone to sign the online petition to protest this action. More than 100,000 signatures have been collected and we are all hopeful that this proposal will be dropped. Prosthetics are not a luxury!
LIM Innovations has developed a new adjustable socket for above-knee amputees and we arranged a meeting for their presentation to demonstrate their product. Twenty of our members plus five prosthetics providers met with the people from San Francisco for an interesting look at how this socket improves fit and comfort for active amputees.
David Campbell, a long-time DAN member, is a published author of two books, “The Quarry” and “Flood Times at Tawakoni.” You can order them on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble Book Stores online, for Kindle, Nook, and other e-book formats. Or pick up one of his books at the next meeting; we’re very proud of David!
Easy Access Travel and Amputee Coalition Travel Adventures have many travel opportunities available for you over the next year. Our newest offerings are a cruise round trip from Galveston (take advantage of this one…you can drive to the port!) and another cruise to Alaska. Please visit www.easyaccesstravel.com and click on Group Trips for complete details including dates, prices and itineraries. Call Debra at (951) 202-2208.
(See a complete listing of cruises on p.4)
www.dallasamputeenetwork.org
(972) 470-0505
Our next DAN meeting will be Monday, September 14th, from 6-9 p.m. at the Spring Creek BBQ in Richardson, 270 N. Central Expressway Bring your coupons!!! Also, everyone should know there will be a new group picture taken at the September 14th meeting at Spring Creek BBQ so please plan on being there!
Sondra Petties and others in our group take part in the “Get Fit Texas” program at REACH of Plano. Grants provide personal trainers to work with those who have disabilities to build up strength, endurance and flexibility. For more information, call Julie Espinoza at (972) 398-1111. The REACH Center For Independent Living is located at 720 E. Park Blvd., Suite 104, in Plano.
The REACH of Plano CTD Action Group-
Join an activist's group with the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities and local activists. Work on Statewide issues of importance on Disability Committees. Enroll today and be notified of group meetings and assignments. This is not a training, this is a working group! Participants must be willing to work hand in hand with Disability and Political entities. Call Julie Espinoza to enroll. 972/398-1111.
Thanks to our 2015 Sponsors:
Tommy Donahue’s Legapalooza Benefit
Strobel & Associates Prosthetics, Inc.
Plano (972) 516-9538
Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics, Inc.
Dallas, Garland, Plano (972) 226-6496
Lift-Aids, Inc. Euless (817) 835-0035
Doug Brooks, Limbs for Life Board Member
M-Power Prosthetics and Orthotics
Dallas (214) 265- 5060
Synergy Orthotics & Prosthetics
Plano (972) 769-8344
Scott Sabolich Prosthetics & Research
Dallas, Oklahoma City (214) 382-9270
Advanced Prosthetics Research, Inc.
Plano (469) 241-1477
AllTech Prosthetics Burleson (817) 706-4976
Excell O & P Denton (940) 243-4198
PROGRAM:
Thanks to TOMMY DONAHUE and his XXXIV LEGAPALOOZA, DAN sent 25 delegates to the annual Amputee Coalition Conference last month in Tucson, AZ and they told the group about their experiences and what they learned at the sessions.
Jennifer Brigham related her life story as a limb-deficient child and recalled the low points in her formative years. This was her first conference and she took advantage of all the things offered. Many other delegates spoke to the group about what they learned and enjoyed at the conference: Deborah Jackson, Larry Olchak, Marcus Johnson, Ronald Barnes, Terry Hess, Sharon Burton, Jerry McGee, Sondra Petties, Debra Kerper, and George and Vickie Mason. Vickie talked about the session for caregivers, which she found very helpful.
2015 Amputee Coalition Conference Report
George & Vickie Mason
As a first time attendee I was in awe of the information available from vendors and other amputees. I was able to experience first-hand the sessions on topics that I deemed important and also the new products available from the vendors on site. I was able to speak with a person that has the recently approved bone anchored prosthesis directly. The caregiver sessions were good for Vickie and we left excited, and more informed about amputations and amputees. The gait training and feedback was invaluable as was the improved mobility session. We also enjoyed the interaction with other amputees from different geographies forging friendships that we look forward to growing in the future. The older members of DAN provided invaluable leadership by example. What more could you ask for?
We thank the DAN group in general and Tommy and Ellen in particular for making our attendance possible. We look forward to attending future conferences.
James Dean Feemster
Nilsa and I had a blast and had a great time. We met so many awesome people and good resources to help us. They celebrated our wedding anniversary at the dance and dinner. Yes, we danced and there are pictures and applause we got when people found out our story. Thank you so much; allowing me to go to the Florida conference in 2013 is the reason I met Nilsa. The ACA is doing a story on Nilsa and I and how we met
Jen Brigham
Just wanted to share my personal experience with the conference. Wowzers-- where to start? First off, one word,- Amazing. This was my first conference and I cannot even express not only my experience but others in the group. My #1 best experience was sharing stories and experiences with other amputees. Swimming and helping others be comfortable in their own skin, hands down, was my favorite. #2, being an amputee for 27 years and deciding I am going to try to run today, I'm not going to be awesome but I'm trying it. (tears were flowing, not only trying it and full-on running strides, to seeing others emotions let out and believing in themselves) to the amazing booths full of technology to sharing life with others. Not being a minority anymore but to look around a massively beautiful hotel and have able-bodied people be the minority. The connections and friendships will never be forgotten and hands down this was an amazing opportunity and I was so blessed to be able to go and am forever grateful! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
James Mercier
I want to thank you, Tommy Donahue and DAN for a wonderful meal Friday evening. It was really great to have us all together at the event and sharing what we’d learned so far. Saturday evening we all gathered for the Gala at three tables set aside for us. Again, it was great share; to see people get up and dance or dance in their seat. I had a great time and look forward to going to the 2016 event.
The research program I was there for seemed to be a hit and we were able to help people understand what the project is about, what it is accomplishing and works to accomplish. Over the next few weeks I hope to hear from some of those people and show them new resources and just plain fun.
I went to many of the sessions and learned a lot. Some is helpful to me directly and some just good information to have. I went to the 2 insurance classes, one on advocacy and the other on denials. The advocacy class talked about the new LCD audit that came out by Medicare and we all have reason to be concerned. I even did a very short video interview with my opinion and about what the AC means to me. The denial one discussed things we can do to help ourselves in getting new devices and the measures we should take to document activities and occurrences. These are things we do to show as proof why we need the new devices.
I even went to the Gait Clinic Friday morning where I was told I need more core strength so I’d have better balance. After that I will get to where I trust my legs better. Not what I wanted to hear. But, it is what I needed to know. I want to get back into bicycling and balance, and strength will be key to making that happen.
All in all it was a wonderful time. I visited with other bilateral BK amputees; asked about feet choices and trusting their prosthetics. Everyone took the time to talk. It was an awesome environment with a lot of great people. I watched one guy get down on a knee and move like he had legs. When I talked to him he was very friendly and helpful. He told me it will come in time. He’s been a bilateral amputee for 34 years. I may be rushing it just a little!
I want to thank everyone for their help and friendship. For opportunities and camaraderie that comes from shared “abilities.” This was an awesome humbling experience I will cherish for life!
Deborah Jackson
Words cannot express my gratitude... Ellen, I have learned so much....I have brothers and sisters all over the world.... Thank you soooo much!
Terry Hess
Ellen, here’s one of my experiences at the conference. Friday afternoon I attended the Gait Clinic. The 2 Physical Therapists were entering my information and one of them looked at my shirt and stated, “That guy is drinking from a leg!” I told them about Tommy and Legapalooza. Also that DAN was able to send 25 delegates to the conference because of Legapalooza. And 4 of the DAN delegates, Ron, Johnny, Chelsea and George were in the Gait Clinic right now. I gave them some of Tommy’s cards. One of them has a sister in Dallas in the medical field and she was going to tell her about Legapalooza. I also told them about DAN, the largest and best support group in the USA, and that we had 65 attendees at the July meeting. They were from Olympic Physical Therapy in Bellevue, WA.
Dan Johnsen
The 2015 Amputee Coalition Conference was rewarding on multiple levels; it was informative, educational and inspirational.
We learned of community, regional and national efforts to improve accessibility of trails and of the Universal Trail Assessment Process which will provide a consistent system for marking trails so we know which are appropriate for persons using wheelchairs, crutches, prosthetics and other assistive devices. Hallelujah! I’ll work for both accessibility and assessment in my own community.
We learned how 3D printing works, how it can be used to fabricate prosthetic components and why it is generally inappropriate for commercial use. Then, in the same session, we learned of the e-NABLE project in which individuals who own 3D printers network together to design, fabricate and freely distribute simple upper extremity prosthetics. This is a truly remarkable endeavor; it does not compete with commercial facilities, it is actually supported by one of the major players and it is making a difference.
We found out about new technology in socket design and fit, how it can help us get a more comfortable fit and better use of prosthetics. We heard about, saw, touched and had demonstrations of new technology in all areas of prosthetics; I was particularly interested in hydraulic and microprocessor controlled ankles, but there was literally something new for everyone to learn about and take back for discussion with their local prosthetists.
In other sessions we learned about current programs of the Veteran’s Administration and learned a tremendous amount about pain management. I discovered so much more about my phantom and residual limb pain, its treatment options and I now have a lot more to talk about with my doctor. I am motivated to continue to learn more about the VA programs, -- how I can take advantage of them and, more importantly, how I can help fellow veteran amputees do so.
A number of us participated in studies including a gait study, a phantom limb study conducted by Walter Reed and other studies that will contribute to the body of knowledge about amputees and amputations. Dallas Amputee Network members reunited with others who have moved away from the Dallas area but are still a part of the DAN community, renewed acquaintance with friends from around the country and made new friends as well.
We learned early on about the "audit proposal and draft policy on insurance coverage for prosthetic devices and components" that is causing a storm of controversy in the amputee community, its potential impact and what we need to do to take action.
Daily we were inspired by individuals with much greater challenges than our own. We encountered amputations at all levels and of all number of limbs; I know I’ve never seen so many quad amputees in one place, all going about the same routine as the rest of us. Throughout the event everyone was upbeat, positive and enjoying all the conference had to offer.
Everyone should attend at least one Amputee Coalition Conference to adjust their attitude, to learn how to improve their own life and to rededicate themselves to helping their fellow amputees do so as well. Thanks to the generosity of the Dallas Amputee Network, its sponsors and donors for making this possible for so many of us.