Support
groups offer guidance, encouragement and camaraderie
At
Powell, we understand the emotional and physical changes that come with the
trauma of losing a limb. Our goal is to provide you with not only a device but also
a network of organizations and care to help you realize your potential.
That’s why we are active in a support group for amputees, their families and loved ones.
That’s why we are active in a support group for amputees, their families and loved ones.
Amputee
support groups provide a unique place for amputees and their family members and
caregivers to connect with others who have overcome similar challenges while
interacting with those who understand their daily struggles. Support groups provide
emotional support, information, fellowship and so much more.
We
talked to Michelle Francis, RN, and Lisa Wright, who are both amputees about
the importance of support groups to amputees.
“The
amputee support group is the only one in the greater Richmond area, and the
only one specifically for amputees,” Michelle says. “There’s a calendar of
events, and we usually host a function every month.”
What’s
great about this organization is the interaction among attendees,” Michelle
continues. “We don’t just have a meeting where you come and sit and just talk
- it’s actually something to do.” The
group offers archery, tennis golf – just about any sport that you can imagine. We
partner with a cool organization called Sportable.”
“Sportable
is almost like YMCA for people with disabilities,” Lisa adds. “We go there and
do all sorts of different activities.”
Michelle
explains: “In previous years we’ve even had a swimming event – a lot of the
amputees had not been swimming since they had their amputation, so thanks to
this event, they got to try adaptive equipment for swimming and got back in the
pool for the first time in a long time.”
The
support group even helps people in bigger ways. “One guy has received a
scholarship to college for wheelchair basketball,” Michelle says. “He had the
desire to go to school, but not necessarily the means, and the scholarship was
a result his involvement in this support group.”
“We meet once a month,” Lisa adds, “Sometimes
it’s at the Powell office, and sometimes it’s out in the community. We try to
set it up so that each month it’s something different.” Sometimes the group goes
out to dinner or to a social event, like a recent trip to the Beer Brewing
Company for a meeting and dinner. Sometimes they will have a guest speaker who
talks about new prosthesis technologies.
“We’ve
even had speakers on very specific topics only amputees have to deal with, like
how you handle winter issues with slick surfaces or sweating in the summer with
your appliance,” Lisa says.
Amputees
helping amputees
Both
Michelle and Lisa are amputees themselves. It’s hard to imagine people with a
more positive attitude about life after having a limb amputated.
Michelle
has been an amputee for just over three years. “I had osteosarcoma,
which is a type of cancer that starts in the bones,” Michelle says. “I had to
have my left leg taken off at the hip.”
“I
first worked with another large prosthetic group in the area, but they couldn’t
get my prosthetic right. Most people with my sort of amputation use a cane or
other support to walk. Powell was able to develop the prosthesis that I use
today - with no other support.”
“I
live on a farm,” she continues. “So I ride a four-wheeler, deal with constantly
walking on uneven ground, and I walk everywhere and don’t even think about it.”
“Because of Powell I was able to go without an assistive device to walk.”
Lisa
has been working at Powell for a few months as a patient care coordinator. She helps
with patients when they first come in, set up their appointments, gather
information, prepare their charts and handle
insurance information.
“Powell
built my prosthesis,” she says. “I used to work for a rehab center and a lot of
our clients went to Powell. When I was ready for a career change, they had a
few things open and I applied and here I am.”
Lisa
has been an amputee for 43 years. “At 7 years old, I was hit by a car while I
was riding a bicycle and lost my leg,” she recalls. “I always talk to people in
this situation and encourage them, and tell them, ‘Don’t sit at home, don’t
think that it’s a barrier – I have an amputation all the way up to the hip, and
I’m as active as anyone.’”
Michelle
agrees, saying, “You can do whatever you set your mind to do. That’s the thing
about these support groups, it’s about meeting other people who continue to
live their lives and be successful.”
Lisa
adds, “I tell people all the time, just to get out an do things, you can attend
the support groups and get some great ideas.” Lisa even started her own
business as an amputee. She connects amputees all over the world with shoes
through her business, Shu Fli Amputee Connection.
Both
older amputees and those who’ve recently become amputees benefit from the
support groups – and there’s something for everyone. It’s especially important
for others to connect with those with the same type of amputation, because they
face the same challenges.
“Some
would never come to a traditional support group because they don’t want to talk
about it,” Michelle says. “Those are the people that get involved in our sport
events or social activities – different people respond in different ways.”
“Being
an amputee literally makes you have to slow down. I can 100% say I am a much
more centered and focused person since my amputation.” For Michelle, she says
it’s “hard to tell who benefits the most from the support groups, the older
crowd really enjoys the socials, but once we started getting the younger crowd
in, they enjoy the social groups too. “
Lisa
says the people who’ve had their amputations longer seem to participate more in
the support groups. “The newer amputees still have to adjust. Many may not have
a peer or another amputee they can talk to, so they’re very much just out there
and lost. When they do get involved, they see there’s a lot to offer in these
groups.”