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CANADA & AUSTRALIA
BILATERAL AMPUTEES &
INTERNAL HEMIPELVECTOMIES
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SALLY
(Plainfield, Illinois) |
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JULIA
(Oklahoma) I had 15 operations from 5 yrs of age until 9 yrs of age when the decision was made to amputate my left leg.it was caused by benign desmoid tumors, that meant they took 1/2 the pelvis, 1/2 of tailbone, etc. and never gave me any support to sit up straight, so now I have horrible scoliosis.of course, I did try a "leg" around the age of 13 or 14 and it was a horrible monstrosity that I named "filmore" because that was the first "ugly" name I came up with. During my reading, I noticed that almost all the people, especially the females, wear "legs", why? After all this time, I am still not interested and cannot think of any thing in the world that I would like to do that I cannot do and not have to drag around something. I do no feel that I am blocking, I just never cared especially what people thought. I have been married for 17 yrs, chose not to have any children and have worked for the Dept. of Human Services as a social worker for 20 yrs. I use alum forearm crutches and see my chiropractor on a regular basis. I need help to sit up at work, lots of desk work and at the computer and that curved spine is where I tend to have a lot of nerve pain, not daily but sometimes very very severe. No doctor seems to be able to find a way to help me. Sorry this is so long but I got excited now that I found ya'll, yippee!! Thanks for being there and for the work you're doing. E-mail: Julia.wonsch@okdhs.org |
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LORNA (Missouri) (Age 90+) I live in Independence, Missouri and became a Hemipelvectomy amputee due to bone cancer when I was in my 50's, back in July 1963. After wearing a prosthetic device for 16 years, I decided not to continue wearing one, since at that time my prosthesis was more cosmetic than functional. I was never athletic, and preferred to get around using underarm crutches with "Lean On Me" crutch tips. More recently, following a fall and a broken arm, I'm even more dependent on my wheelchair. However, I’m still driving and able to do grocery shopping, get to my various appointments, out to eat, etc. My hobbies are cooking, sewing and genealogy. The items I sew are sold and the money given to LEAPS to help other amputees. I've learned how to use the computer, and recently have been helping Marianne Timmerman, from the Netherlands, to translate her new hemipelvectomy web site into English. e-mail: lhilgard@kcnet.com |
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LINDA (Michigan) I’m a Left HD and over a 10 year cancer survivor. I live in a suburb of Detroit with my husband and two children and have a transcription business out of my home. I use my prosthesis along with a cane, but my goal is to walk without a cane eventually and to improve my gait. I’ve had three prostheses but found that by losing some weight, my prosthesis now fits more comfortably. My present components are the Otto Bock hip, Total Knee, and Total Concept foot. In the past I tried other components such as the Littig strut hip and the Multi-flex foot. I’d like to converse with others about my options for components. My prosthetist is Jerry Vilminot, C.P. E-mail: Ladyljd@aol.com |
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STEVE (Indiana)
I’m 19 years old, hemipelvectomy due to a traumatic motorcycle accident in 1997. I live in a suburb of Chicago. After my accident, my parents were told I probably wouldn’t survive, and never walk again (the doctors had no experience with hemipelvectomies). I proved them wrong. It wasn’t easy, it took over a year of multiple surgeries before having my first prosthesis made. I wear my prosthesis now an average of 12 hours a day . I am a student at Purdue University and my career goal is to become a Mechanical Engineer. Between college classes, sports, my active social life and fittings for my new prosthesis. My prosthetists are Scheck & Siress. E-mail: I’m kind of busy, but you can reach me or my parents, Bill and Pat, at decolores2you@yahoo.com |
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USA - EASTERN REGION |
