Dawn's August: Amputee Coalition Annual Conference

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Welcome to August! This month will be an information packed blog as we celebrate the Amputee Coalition’s first virtual annual conference! This year’s annual meeting was originally scheduled to take place live in Washington, DC. The revised virtual convention was held August 19-22, 2020.

While we are still in this COVID-19 pandemic we are learning to navigate important events that would have taken place in person and now must be presented online. There is a benefit to this - it does open the door for more people to be able to attend and cross the distances of our country to our beautiful Washington, DC area, without the cost of travel and hotel. I had planned on attending in person before COVID changed all of that - so I signed up for this first time virtual event and was looking forward to see what the conference would hold for all the amputee virtual attendees from across the country.

The Mission statement for the conference was “The Power Of You!”. The call to action rang clear as the first night started with the opportunity to network with peers and professionals in a virtual meeting room. What a great experience I had meeting new people and seeing old friends! I found it easy to choose a table and open our discussions with brief stories about who we are and what we want to learn from all the events that were being offered. That virtual meeting room countdown came all to soon to join the opening ceremony, which went off beautifully. It started with Mary Richards, CEO of the Amputee Coalition. Her energy was upbeat and her message that we are not alone and everyone at the Coalition is there to provide us education, support and genuine care was genuine. If we all discover the power inside us, we can create an energy that will carry us to greatness.

The keynote speakers came on and wow! what great messages of strength and power. John Register never lets us feel down and with his words of support creates an internal energy that gives us that “I can do this”, “We are not alone” feeling.  Angel Giuffria gave us updates on how amputees are making strides in the acting community. We are being seen and appreciated for the talents we have as people, not just as amputees. The final portion of the evening’s events was the exhibit hall where you could see all the vendors. You could set up a time to live chat with them to hear all the innovation each has to offer to new and existing amputees to help them achieve their goals.

After this opening, I was looking forward to see what Thursday’s events would bring. And we discovered that there was one other very fun thing you could do during the convention 24/7, and that was Live Guided Yoga! Of course, this was on my schedule. Whether it was the first time you were trying this or you were a pro, when I did it, it was a lot of fun and educational!

Thursday I attended a session on navigating the pandemic, and it was very insightful. The main goal was to learn coping skills - how to adapt and finally to overcome the stresses everyone is feeling today.  The speaker gave us five easy steps to follow. Self-monitoring is the first step to assess ourselves. We need to ask - are we sleeping? Are we getting some exercise? Am I feeling depressed or do I feel that I exhibit signs of clinical depression? Recognizing all of these will help us make adjustments to our daily lives and seek help if we cannot seem to get our feelings or stress to a balanced place.

The next suggestion is “Do something you enjoy”. Schedule a time each day that you do something you love. This could be reading, listening to music, or going for a walk. The most important thing is to plan something that gives you joy. The third (which I follow becauseI feel it is so important for me), is to limit my daily dose of the news and negative media. It is shoved at us from every angle and can trigger anxiety. It is good to be factually informed, but there is so much fake news that it can consume and does divide people. So I turn it off, take a break - don’t let it take over your thoughts. “The news can be a blessing or a curse”.

I love the fourth suggestion, which is pick up your phone and call someone. I tell you that all the time! Make that human connection, talk to someone, laugh, listen. We all feel disconnected, but we all have tools at hand that can help us reach out and connect with someone.  The last part to this topic is to make full use of all the resources at the Amputee Coalition. The AC website has a ton of great education and support topics to help us navigate through this pandemic. I am excited to share with you a fantastic free, interactive resource called PALS. This is an interactive program to help you manage your life after limb loss. It will help you explore the ways your life has changed and how you can learn to navigate your new normal. Click here to read more about the PALS - Amputee Life Sklls online program.  You can take this class at your own pace in your home. I hope you take a look to see how it can help you in your daily life.

The topics the Coalition presented really took into consideration all of the things that new and existing amputees face. Pain management innovation offered all the options an amputee has to control their pain without relying on narcotics. These range from meditation to bio-feedback, and in more serious cases implantable devices. You do not have to suffer! Talk to your doctor and prosthetist and they will help you find solutions. There were many breakout groups where professionals and peers roundtable talked about solutions to a array of topics. Improving health and wellness and staying active after amputation was a favorite of mine. I learned early on after my amputation, the more you walk, the more you become one with your prosthesis. The Coalition site offers so much education year round everyone should take the opportunity to learn as much as they can. If you need to talk to someone, you can choose a peer call.

In another session, Carol Blymire taught how to tell our stories so we can connect with other amputees in our communities. And there was so much more! This conference was well put together and I personally learned so much. If you attended the conference for the small $20.00 registration fee, you will be able to access all of the conference material on the website in case you missed something or want to revisit a session. The closing ceremony offered us positive words to keep moving forward and be creative so that we will come through this pandemic strong. “The power of you!” resonated through this wonderful conference. I look forward to next year’s conference in Chicago and hope that we can attend in person. The Amputee Coalition has pledged to offer more virtual education through their website and I myself look forward to that!

Have blessed day!! Visit all our Dankmeyer website has to offer for education. Reach out to me by email at dawn@dankmeyer.com and I am happy to answer your email, give you a call or set up a telehealth session. I am only a click or call away.

These tips are informed suggestions. If you do not feel comfortable with them, please do not attempt them. Instead as always contact your medical professional or your prosthetist for help and advice. 

If you have a question for me about living as an amputee, ask! And if I don’t know the answer, I will find it for you, and I will leave no stone unturned to help you find your own personal new normal. If there is a topic you would like me to feature please let me know! I want us all to grow strong together.  Email me at Dawn@dankmeyer.com. This email is not secure, so if you wish to keep any specific health information private, you should call us!

Dawn Miranda recently joined Dankmeyer, Inc. as a Prosthetist Assistant after relocating from San Antonio, TX.  To read more about Dawn on our Clinical Staff page, click here.






















Dawn's July: Re-entering the Dating Game

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Here is my July Blog: Let’s Talk about Re-entering the Dating Game!

Now that the summer is upon us, the longer days that we all love so much are here! This is when we might be meeting up with family and friends for picnics and outdoor events, as the Governor has expanded our COVID-19 Phase 2 restrictions. We can now enjoy more dining options as well as the opening of a lot of outdoor parks and activities - while still keeping in mind social distancing recommendations. I know everyone is thinking that masks make it difficult to show feeling while interacting at the office or a store, but we still have our words.

Let’s talk about re-entering the dating game. This is a topic I am asked about a lot and everyone wants to know the same thing - will my spouse, girlfriend or boyfriend, or significant other still find me attractive? I certainly hope that amputees in a committed relationship have someone that loves us for more than our body parts. I have heard all sorts of relationship talk from other amputees. Most have good experiences. But for some, there was usually more to it than a person’s limb loss if there are issues.

For new people in general and for first time amputees young and old, entering or reentering the dating game is always something that makes most of us nervous. The most important thing is finding your inner confidence. We have to love ourselves and love our skin! Everyone has to be their own kind of beautiful, and self-love helps us project confidence, happiness and security in who we are. These are desirable features for anyone to have. I think you will find that it can and will help you find or be with that forever someone.

The old saying ”beauty is only skin deep” has a lot of true meaning. If you are not already in a relationship, when you feel ready to consider that, there are a lot of ways to meet people. Make a list of all the things you enjoy doing! Cooking, movies, outdoor concerts, the zoo, museums, art galleries, church groups, and support groups - the list is endless. Then you could start looking for online community events, and go to something with a friend, or venture out on your own and meet people. We, as people, are drawn to each other for many reasons, but finding people with common interests is extremely important. While there are online dating apps for all ages, caution must be taken when meeting with strangers - that goes for anyone.

The idea is to just think about what you liked to do before and don’t let limb loss stop you from resuming your social life. We are still the same people with the same likes and dislikes. The idea is to let people see that we are comfortable with our new normal and then they will not see our differences, they will only see the person they have always known.  

Today you will see amputees in all sorts of media - we walk runways, some are athletes, we are featured in TV commercials, as well as in magazines. Media has opened a lot of people’s eyes to the fact we are people, we just have a different kind of normal (but don’t we all?)  No two people in the world are alike, what makes us special is that we are all different. So go out into the world and explore! Meet new people, shed old ones that may not see you for you. Every day is a beautiful opportunity to write our own new chapter in the book we call life!! Just take a deep breath and take the leap of faith, there is always someone for everyone out there - we just have to open our eyes and our heart.

Here are some great stories and references from various amputee publications to uplift you and give you hope. There is a wealth of great reads on dating! Find one and create your story.

1.     OPEdge - The Myth of a Loveless Future. Jul 2015.

2.    Amputee Coaltion of Toronto. Dating, Relationships, Sex After Limb Loss. Feb 2020.

3.    Amplitude Magazine. Sex and Intimacy After Amputation. May 2019.

4.   Amputee Store. Dating After Limb Loss: What to Expect. May 2020

“Someday, someone’s going to look at you like you are the best thing in the world”. Author: Imjust-a-girl.tumblr


These tips are informed suggestions. If you do not feel comfortable with them, please do not attempt them. Instead as always contact your medical professional or your prosthetist for help and advice. 

If you have a question for me about living as an amputee, ask! And if I don’t know the answer, I will find it for you, and I will leave no stone unturned to help you find your own personal new normal. If there is a topic you would like me to feature please let me know! I want us all to grow strong together.  Email me at Dawn@dankmeyer.com. This email is not secure, so if you wish to keep any specific health information private, you should call us!

Dawn Miranda recently joined Dankmeyer, Inc. as a Prosthetist Assistant after relocating from San Antonio, TX.  To read more about Dawn on our Clinical Staff page, click here.













Dawn's June: Hello Summer and a Call to Advocacy!

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Here is my June Blog: Hello Summer! And, this is a Call to Advocacy!

My word of the month: ad·vo·ca·cy. Advocacy means public support for the recommendation of a particular cause or policy.

Advocacy means taking action!

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On April 26, 2020- April 28, 2020, Dankmeyer clinician Marlies Beerli Cabell, CPO and I attended the Amputee Coalition’s virtual advocacy forum. Formerly known as Hill Day and held in Washington, D.C.,  due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Amputee Coalition came up with the great idea to hold it as a virtual conference. This removed any barriers that amputees, caregivers and other interested parties might have had in attending in person. Marlies and I began our advocacy journey by attending to learn how to become a voice, advocate and lead our patients to advocate for the amputee community.

The topics that were explored during the conference opened our eyes and gave us a direction to take action within our government to ensure that key legislative bills are passed. These bills hold critical funds that directly affect how amputees’ care is paid for and how resources are funded. The bill that is currently in the House will be voted on in November due to COVID-19.

Our first talk was about “Year round advocacy”, which is a service provided to us through the Amputee Coalition. Go to their website and read all the fantastic resources there for you. The Amputee Coalition works tirelessly to tackle the tough issues that amputees face every day. The speakers that so generously volunteered their time to educate and empower us were wonderful. These are the dedicated advocates that we had the pleasure to learn from and you can read all about the speakers in depth on the Coalition website: Carol Blymire, MS, CEO of Blymire Communications; Raissa H. Downs, JD, Founding Partner, Tarpin Downs & Young LLC; Dan Ignaszewski, Chief Policy and Programs Officer, Amputee Coalition; and Mary Richards, President and CEO, Amputee Coalition.

The event was recorded and is on the Coalition website. The information and the encouragement they share is contagious and it shows you that everyone can make a difference. We were taught how to write letters and send them via email to legislators so they know we need to be heard. COVID-19 has made it a challenge to feel like we are making a difference and being heard. A simple, old fashioned, hand written letter can make an impact to someone in our electronic world. If we educate ourselves now we will be ready to go once the world opens back up. The Coalition has classes and I think you will find that there is something for everyone.

The Grassroots Advocacy Center is where you can learn how to get your Certified Peer Support Certification, be a Peer Advocate, Media Advocate, Policy Advocate, and Community Advocate. These are samples of the training programs that are being updated and/or coming soon. The Coalition is reworking all the online classes so that no one that has an interest is left out. Marlies and I will be pursuing the Lead Advocate certification so that we can make a difference for amputees all over the United States through our government.  We in turn can let other amputees know how they can make a difference on the community level as well as the state and federal level. Go to the Google Play Store and iTunes Store to get the new Amputee Coalition App (free download!) and have a wealth of resources by your side every day.

I challenge you to respond to a “Call to Action” to make your voice heard, because together we can move mountains.

“ALONE we can do so little; TOGETHER we can do so much.” - Helen Keller

These tips are informed suggestions. If you do not feel comfortable with them, please do not attempt them. Instead as always contact your medical professional or your prosthetist for help and advice. 

If you have a question for me about living as an amputee, ask! And if I don’t know the answer, I will find it for you, and I will leave no stone unturned to help you find your own personal new normal. If there is a topic you would like me to feature please let me know! I want us all to grow strong together.  Email me at Dawn@dankmeyer.com. This email is not secure, so if you wish to keep any specific health information private, you should call us!

Dawn Miranda recently joined Dankmeyer, Inc. as a Prosthetist Assistant after relocating from San Antonio, TX.  To read more about Dawn on our Clinical Staff page, click here.







Dawn's May: Equine Therapy - Therapy Horses for Individuals With Disabilities and/or Need for Rehabilitation

Horses have played an important role in healing of the military for decades. Therapy horses were gradually introduced to adults and children with disabilities in hopes of helping them build confidence and strength through the bond of a horse and a human. If you have ever looked into the eyes of a horse and felt the bond they are eager to create with you, then you have experienced the true magic a horse can bring to someone’s life.

I have experienced firsthand the unconditional love and dedication a horse can give. I have been blessed to feel the love of a horse since childhood. My father gave me my first horse when I was 10 years old. He was a Welsh Pony named “ No Name”. What a sweet boy he was! I would jump on him bareback and ride all day. I loved the feel of the wind in my long hair as we loped across the meadows full of wildflowers. No Name and I would have long heartfelt conversations - he listened as I told him about my days at school or the boy I liked but was afraid to tell. He was my world growing up, and I was blessed to have many beautiful horses throughout my life.

It was when I moved to San Antonio, Texas that I discovered a beautiful non-profit therapy program three short miles from my home. SpiritHorse Horsemanship in Medina County, close to San Antonio, provides therapy sessions and lessons for children, adults, veterans and amputees. If you get a chance to visit their Facebook page, you will see all that they offer. They are situated on Canaan Land Ranch, a sprawling 100 acre retreat, as well as the home for the rehabilitation program.

Here is a sampling of the program’s outline:

  • Meet the instructor one on one.

  • Question and answer session for parents.

  • Tour the ranch and tack rooms.

I attended the program and got to groom and ride one of their beautiful therapy horses. All the horses in the program were trained by the owner. The horses were all rescue horses given a beautiful second chance to be loved by so many. The ride I took that day and the story behind the program gave me such a respect for the couple that had dedicated their lives to helping others. If you are interested in therapeutic riding programs, most states have places that offer lessons to people with all kinds of differences. Here are a few examples in Maryland.

There is a unique program in Maryland that offers inmates the opportunity to work with horses as part of their rehabilitation process while incarcerated. The Second Chances farm is a state owned property where a small number of inmates from nearby Central Maryland Correctional facility in Sykesville have earned the opportunity to work with retired and injured racehorses that have been given safe haven from slaughter by The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. This program opened in May of 2009 when they received their first three race horses to begin working with. Take a moment to look up this program where horses are changing lives by clicking here.

Maryland offers a wonderful therapeutic program, ”Horses Healing Maryland’s Military” open to active duty military, veterans, and their families as a way to heal from their war experiences. The website has a directory giving the reader a list of farms and the therapeutic services they provide. Their programs provide all levels of therapeutic interaction with their horses. They also offer volunteer and mentoring opportunities at some of the ranches.

If had not been for the love of my father, my best friend, my mentor, I would not have the strength I have today. I carry his love throughout my life and as I hold both my parents in my heart, I know I will continue to have wings to fly high and reach my dreams.

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Horses! These beautiful, gentle creatures make a difference in lives every day.

These tips are informed suggestions. If you do not feel comfortable with them, please do not attempt them. Instead as always contact your medical professional or your prosthetist for help and advice. 

If you have a question for me about living as an amputee, ask! And if I don’t know the answer, I will find it for you, and I will leave no stone unturned to help you find your own personal new normal. If there is a topic you would like me to feature please let me know! I want us all to grow strong together.  Email me at Dawn@dankmeyer.com. This email is not secure, so if you wish to keep any specific health information private, you should call us!

Dawn Miranda recently joined Dankmeyer, Inc. as a Prosthetist Assistant after relocating from San Antonio, TX.  To read more about Dawn on our Clinical Staff page, click here.

Dawn's April - Things I Wish I Had Known

Our New Normal!

“Helping Others Discover and Live an Unlimited Lifestyle.”

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Welcome to our Dankmeyer blog!! My name is Dawn Miranda, and I am a new amputee of only three years (12/2/2016). I hope this blog page will answer your questions, uplift you through education, and inspire hope that we will get to our new normal together. 

April- Things I wish I had known when I became an amputee; Life adjustments and finding your new normal.

Welcome back! I hope everyone is learning and enjoying the topics.  Happy Limb Loss Awareness Month! I also want to remind you that I always welcome topic suggestions from you. Just email me at dawn@dankmeyer.com and I am happy to explore and discuss your topics of concerns, or joys.

I wanted to touch on a subject that has affected each and every one of us - the COVID-19 pandemic. This has swept in and changed all of our lives in a short amount of time. I know the stay at home order we have been under has caused so much stress in so many different ways. I would like to remind you I am here to talk by phone, virtual chat, email or text, to try and answer your amputee questions and provide support during this difficult time. Self-isolation creates so many emotions for each of us, particularly amputees who may be trying to work through their own version of “new normal”.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out and make that connection with me as we are all in this together. Dankmeyer is here for each and every one of you during this hard time. 

I was going to change my April blog to center around these changes, but I decided to push forward with this month’s topic.  I have been thinking a lot about things I wish I had known when I first became an amputee.   I have learned so much about myself and how I handled all the changes when I became an amputee.  All of the adjustments we make are not just on the new equipment that is now attached to our bodies, but includes the mindset needed to make us successful as new amputees. One of the first things I had to learn was that I was not going to let my new body part define me!  I was not going to let a piece of equipment tell me what I was going to be able to do or not be able to do. I think the mental part of amputation is the hardest, because we can, with the help of our doctors, our physical therapists and prosthetist learn how to use and take care of this new, very foreign piece of equipment that we now need to rely on. 

The mind ….  let’s talk about that, that gray mysterious matter that sits protected in our skulls - now that’s a powerful thing. If you remember back in school, good old Biology, our teachers told us all about the wonders of the brain. How it is our center for happiness, sadness, pain, left brain, right brain, artistry, musicality, breathing, - it all is controlled by the brain. It literally can help us to be successful or fail at something, if we listen. I know you wonder - what does this have to do with success as a new amputee?  Well, I think mindset has everything to do with our success! 

I have learned there is nothing I can’t do now as an amputee.  There are things I had long given up on that I now do, there are things I have never done that I can and will learn to do. YOU can do this too, as long as you take all the power your brain has and direct it to being driven to not give up as an amputee. Have I fallen! Oh my goodness, yes! I have had epic falls and picked myself up and healed and went at it again. I have learned we all have falls in our lives, whether you are an amputee or you have two non-prosthetic legs! Falls are falls and we must get up! We did as babies when we learned to walk, we did as kids when we learned to ride bikes, we did as young adults when we lost our first jobs, and we do as we age. Our legs, whether flesh and bone, or flesh and metal, (or even in an emotional fall),  we can fall….it’s the getting back up that really counts. 

You can choose to stay sitting on the ground or you can make the effort to get up! I had to learn this mental part. No one really told me that the hardest part would be the mental part. I have had days in the past and will have days in the future when I will feel a bit defeated, but it is on those days that I am determined to take control of the negative thoughts and push forward, instead of fall back. I could give you lists a mile long of amputee tips and tricks, but I think I know the biggest thing I can give you is to suggest that you strengthen your mindset.  Look at your day as seconds, minutes, and hours and look for your one, yes one positive thing, you did to try and reach your goal of getting to a better, stronger you. 

One of the first things we need to do every morning is put our shoes on. (Ours just happen to have a leg attached to it, or maybe it’s both your legs, maybe it’s your arm.) The point is to create a routine that is the one you want to do. Every day you overcome a challenge, pat yourself on the back… we have to be proud of ourselves first and foremost.  

If you didn’t put yourself first before your amputation, Do It NOW! The things I wish I knew when I became an amputee are: to love my new self, be proud of the little things in my new life, and don’t worry about what anyone else thinks. When someone says, “Gee, I am sorry that you lost your (fill in the blank)!”, tell them not to be sorry, because you’re alive and going to be better than ever.  In my case, I gave up something that slowly was painfully taking away the life I wanted to live.  Now I have a second chance, and I am going to give it my all! Because after all, not everyone gets a second chance. Create that positive mindset for yourself.  If you read the Patient Stories on our website, this is a similar train of thought in many of the stories!

Quote of the month- “The first step is you say I can!” - Will Smith

These tips are informed suggestions. If you do not feel comfortable with them, please do not attempt them. Instead as always contact your medical professional or your prosthetist for help and advice. 

If you have a question for me about living as an amputee, ask! And if I don’t know the answer, I will find it for you, and I will leave no stone unturned to help you find your own personal new normal. If there is a topic you would like me to feature please let me know! I want us all to grow strong together.  Email me at Dawn@dankmeyer.com. This email is not secure, so if you wish to keep any specific health information private, you should call us!

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Dawn Miranda recently joined Dankmeyer, Inc. as a Prosthetist Assistant after relocating from San Antonio, TX.  To read more about Dawn on our Clinical Staff page, click here.

Dawn's March - COVID-19 and Spring into Limb Loss Awareness

Our New Normal!

“Helping Others Discover and Live an Unlimited Lifestyle.”

Welcome to our new Dankmeyer blog!! My name is Dawn Miranda, and I am a new amputee of only three years (12/2/2016). I hope this blog page will answer your questions, uplift you through education, and inspire hope that we will get to our new normal together. 

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This month let’s talk about Coronavirus (COVID-19), spring and the upcoming Limb Loss Awareness Month.

I want to touch on this specter - the Coronavirus - that is changing all our lives. It is very important in this time of isolation that we keep ourselves busy and reach out to online support groups, friends and family through phone calls or social media. Take this time if you are a new amputee to heal, rest, do the stretches your doctor or therapist gave you to do. This is your time to let your body rest and this is also a great time to make a plan for what you think you want to do in your future.

We here at Dankmeyer are here for you and we will be keeping you updated on any changes that could come due to the virus. In the meantime, please feel free to contact our front desk staff if you want to make any changes to your appointments. We are here to help you! The most important thing I can share with you is, “To never lose hope”. Keep an eye out on our website for updates for things you can read and please reach out by email, or by phone as I am here to listen when you need a friendly ear. 

Normally, at this time of year we would be shouting Welcome Spring! April and Easter are right around the corner and that is our month to shine. April is Limb Loss Awareness Month!! It is our month to reach out and let people know, ”I MATTER”, “I AM IMPORTANT”, “I AM STRONG”. Although public festivities are cancelled and new words like “social distancing” have changed how we interact, I want you to know you aren’t alone. I am here to answer your questions, provide support as well as help you stay in touch with someone who understands how you feel.  We can celebrate Limb Loss Awareness together - just in a different way. We cannot let this month pass because an invisible virus is keeping us at home.

The Amputee Coalition is planning “Advocacy Day”, formerly known as “Hill Day”. Instead of converging upon Washington, D.C., it is going to be set up via the internet. We will post on our website details once they have released the official date and times. To educate others about limb loss and limb difference, I am working on a slideshow campaign. If you want to be included, I would love you to email me a small bio and a picture or two “Showing Your Mettle”. This campaign is where people get a chance to show their limb loss and all the things they love to do in their lives - or maybe pictures of things they are working toward.  I would love to see all your pictures and hear your words of accomplishments.

Orange is our official color for Limb Loss Awareness month so put on your orange. (This should be easy for Baltimore Orioles fans!) Post it across your social media to let every know that you are proud to be a limb loss survivor and you are your own kind of beautiful! Remember, we come from so many walks of life. We are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, we are grocery store workers, customer service agents, nurses, truck drivers, the list goes on. No matter what we do, as long as we do our best to embrace our new normal, we can all climb the mountains we have pictured in our future.

Quote for March: “Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.”– Thich Nhat Hanh

These tips are informed suggestions. If you do not feel comfortable with them, please do not attempt them. Instead as always contact your medical professional or your prosthetist for help and advice. 

If you have a question for me about living as an amputee, ask! And if I don’t know the answer, I will find it for you, and I will leave no stone unturned to help you find your own personal new normal. If there is a topic you would like me to feature please let me know! I want us all to grow strong together.  Email me at Dawn@dankmeyer.com. This email is not secure, so if you wish to keep any specific health information private, you should call us!

Dawn Miranda recently joined Dankmeyer, Inc. as a Prosthetist Assistant after relocating from San Antonio, TX.  To read more about Dawn on our Clinical Staff page, click here.

Dawn's February - Self Transformation

Our New Normal!

“Helping Others Discover and Live an Unlimited Lifestyle.”

Welcome to our new Dankmeyer blog!! My name is Dawn Miranda, and I am a new amputee of only three years (12/2/2016). I hope this blog page will answer your questions, uplift you through education, and inspire hope that we will get to our new normal together. 

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This month’s topic to talk about is “Returning to Work”.

This is a topic I get a lot of questions about from patients I see at Dankmeyer and fellow amputee sisters and brothers. Returning to work can be done and it is a different process for everyone. No two person’s health, activity level or lifestyle are the same, so you must plan something that works best for you.

There are a lot of resources out there to start with. The first step is to make an honest assessment of how much time you think you can tolerate when first returning to work. Not everyone can jump right into a 40 hour work week.  Once you decide on how much time you want to dedicate to working, then we must look into transportation. Do you own a car? Do you have the right equipment and right permits to drive as an amputee? Can you car pool with someone? Can you use public transportation?

Move onto the next step which entails a little research on returning to work with physical limitations. If you have access to the internet, start searching for information on this topic. If you don’t have access to a computer, do you have internet on your phone? Can you get to the library or can someone from maybe a group you belong to (like a limb loss support group) let you ride to the library to research together? Looking for a job needs to feel fun, have an open mind and let’s explore some options together!

One possibility, if transportation is a concern, is the work at home option. This is really where you can think outside of the box!! Ask your friends! They always know of someone who works from home. There are a lot of reputable companies now using a home workforce. There are also a lot of companies that don’t require upfront money to open up a store front on the internet. Some people you know may do work from home businesses because they have small children or just want to make a little extra holiday or vacation money. Be careful, because job hunting services and the internet in general can have scams! If it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is. When you are doing your research, or a job search, do be careful where you click and always keep your personal information private.

If you have a resume, polish it up! If you don’t, there are plenty of tools on the internet as well as free classes to help you take your life skills and build a resume. Look up your local vocational return to work office. Each state has one and they are there to help individuals retrain to return to work.

Resources for Maryland residents - just click on the link:

Maryland Department of Budget and Management: Job Seekers with Disabilities

Maryland Department of Labor:Information for Individuals with Disabilities

Maryland Division of Rehabilitative Services (DORS)

Talk to someone at your local house of worship, if you attend. Leave no stone unturned!! I think I once read, “It can take a lot of NO’s to succeed, but all it takes is one YES!! to open a door.” Never stop dreaming you can have a life unlimited!

These tips are informed suggestions. If you do not feel comfortable with them, please do not attempt them. Instead as always contact your medical professional or your prosthetist for help and advice. 

If you have a question for me about living as an amputee, ask! And if I don’t know the answer, I will find it for you, and I will leave no stone unturned to help you find your own personal new normal. If there is a topic you would like me to feature please let me know! I want us all to grow strong together.  Email me at Dawn@dankmeyer.com. This email is not secure, so if you wish to keep any specific health information private, you should call us!

Dawn Miranda recently joined Dankmeyer, Inc. as a Prosthetist Assistant after relocating from San Antonio, TX.  To read more about Dawn on our Clinical Staff page, click here.

Dawn's January - Baby, It's Cold Outside

Our New Normal!

“Helping Others Discover and Live an Unlimited Lifestyle.”

Welcome to our new Dankmeyer blog!! My name is Dawn Miranda, and I am a new amputee of only three years (12/2/2016). I hope this blog page will answer your questions, uplift you through education, and inspire hope that we will get to our new normal together. 

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Welcome!! Pour your favorite hot beverage and let’s talk cold weather survival tips and how to enjoy the snow. (Yes we can have some fun on those sunny days in winter.)

Avoid Falls!

Cold weather safety tips for prosthesis wearers is a very important topic because falls are our number one concern. So, how do we get what we need on those days the weather is just too nasty? How can we get the things done we need to get done - like groceries! Thank heaven we are in the age of technology and grocery delivery is a service available from all the major grocery chains. If you have a computer, explore online grocery shopping. I have used this before personally and actually found I stay on budget, and spend less because that impulse buying fever is taken out of the equation when you order online. Just be careful, because a dear friend of mine wanted organic bananas and she didn’t realize how they came! Well…! She ordered six bananas thinking that nice person picking her groceries would pick six of the finest bananas. Well she did!!! Six bunches of ten!!! Sixty bananas were delivered! In the freezer they went and a lot of bread, pudding and other banana desserts were on her menu for a long time! 

So what else might you ask can I suggest for winter safety? Boots! The best pair you can afford. We are all on a budget so choose a boot with the best non-slip tread. Try to find boots with the elastic lacing to make slipping them on easier. If you live in an icy part of the country, which Maryland can be, I recommend the slip over your boot cleats. The mailmen use them. Smart, very smart, as they do a lot of walking in harsh weather. These cleats come in a variety of names and vary in price range. Here are a few names to look up. You can choose what will suit you best for the weather you get.

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1.     Yaktrax walk traction cleats- $14.86 on Amazon.com

2.     Crampons Ice Cleats traction snow grips- $25.90 on Amazon.com

3.     Hurricane Outdoor Snow antiskid cleats- $9.19 on Walmart.com

4.     Snow Grippers Ice cleats- $9.57 Walmart online 

5.     Kamik Snowboot- Amazon- $59.95

 

These are just a few to get you thinking! 

Warm up that socket!

A cold socket in the mornings makes your residual limb shiver!!! Then warm it up a little before you step into it. You can use a blow dryer on a low setting, being careful to feel the socket and not actually make it hot to the touch.  Another old fashioned idea is the good ol’ hot water bottle.  You know those Pepto-Bismol pink ones with the big rubber stoppers your parents or grandparents had? My mom always placed one in my bed 15 minutes before I climbed in. That, folks, was amazing and still is! So here is what you can do to help chase phantom pains away. Grab yourself a hot water bottle - they sell them at the dollar stores or Walmart. When you get your hot water bottle, run hot tap water in it and slip a towel around it to be sure it is not too hot for your skin.

Blog followers, don’t lock yourself up in your home. Ask for help and get outside. You can’t live an unlimited life if you don’t open the door. Remember, Oh the weather outside may look frightful, but let’s think of things to make it delightful, so if there’s no place to go today, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow (only while we sleep!! Tee hee).

These tips are informed suggestions. If you do not feel comfortable with them, please do not attempt them. Instead as always contact your medical professional or your prosthetist for help and advice. 

If you have a question for me about living as an amputee, ask! And if I don’t know the answer, I will find it for you, and I will leave no stone unturned to help you find your own personal new normal. If there is a topic you would like me to feature please let me know! I want us all to grow strong together.  Email me at Dawn@dankmeyer.com. This email is not secure, so if you wish to keep any specific health information private, you should call us!

Quote for the Month: “I come from nothing. I come from sleeping in the kitchen with my family with the oven open to keep us warm during winter, you know? When you come from that background, all this extra stuff is just... extra stuff, you know?” - Michael B. Jordan

Dawn Miranda recently joined Dankmeyer, Inc. as a Prosthetist Assistant after relocating from San Antonio, TX.  To read more about Dawn on our Clinical Staff page, click here.

Dawn's December - Travel Tips!

Our New Normal!

“Helping Others Discover and Live an Unlimited Lifestyle.”

Welcome to our new Dankmeyer blog!! My name is Dawn Miranda, and I am a new amputee of only three years (12/2/2016). I hope this blog page will answer your questions, uplift you through education, and inspire hope that we will get to our new normal together. 

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Today, I would like to share with you how I have gone about:

Finding My New Normal While Traveling!

I know personally that first time travel can be a bit nerve-wracking, but let’s focus on the destination and be prepared so that you can have an enjoyable journey. Whether your first trip is to the beach, mountains or even overseas, the guidelines are the same. Start by looking up the airlines, bus lines or cruise ship lines you will be traveling to know how you can be prepared before you show up for your transportation.

Last year, I traveled to Durango, Colorado for a weeklong adaptive ski trip and then had a trip booked to Costa Rica the following month.  These two destinations meant I had to prepare for completely different weather conditions in a short time.

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For both trips I was traveling by airline. This being my first time traveling as a new amputee, and a solo traveler, I wanted to be prepared. I looked up my airlines and found it looked pretty simple. I requested bulkhead seating to give me maximum leg room. If you find that is not available, they are generally happy to try and seat you where you will have an aisle seat or a seat open between you and another traveler to give you just that little bit of extra room. I find with patience and kindness most are happy to accommodate you.

Since I was going to be gone for a week each time, I made an appointment with my prosthetist. He did a thorough inspection of my prosthesis to be sure there were no broken or damaged parts and my sleeves and liners were in good repair.

I made a checklist of the following items - which I knew I might need regardless of the weather and would ensure I had a comfortable trip.

1.     Extra liners.

2.    Extra sleeves.

3.    Sock ply in case there were any limb changes due to colder/ warmer temperatures and elevations.

4.    Thin sock ply to use inside the liner to wick away moisture in those humid climates.

5.    4mm T- wrench and some set screws and Loctite.

6.    Sleeve with a large Velcro strap to slide over my socket for extra reinforcement on the lift in Durango at the ski resort, or on a zip line in Costa Rica.  (This was so my leg didn’t somehow fall off and hit someone below!)

7.    I kept all my liquids in the 3 ounce or less travel bottles. (If you use lubricant or alcohol to put your liners on you might need this.)

8.    Roll of electrical tape (you never know if you need to seal a hole in a sleeve).

9.    Plastic bag to help slip my boot on. (Place a plastic bag around foot shell and slide into winter boot as well as great to keep sand out of your components when at the beach.)

10.  Chargers if you have any microprocessor components. (European plug adapters if traveling overseas.)

My personal experience with TSA was a pleasant one. I arrived two hours early before my flight so I felt no rush to get through the security point. I let them know when I approached I was an amputee. They used a wand to scan my leg, they did a brief pat-down of the leg and socket, as well as a swab of the socket (testing for drugs or explosives, standard for all passengers). I had my bag that contained all my prosthetic equipment labeled as “medical bag” and there was no charge for that bag. TSA even offered wheelchair assistance to me if I felt I would need it on the receiving end of my flight. Wheelchair service can also be arranged when making your reservation at the start or your destination.  They are happy to have this waiting and assist you to your gate if you feel you may need assistance, as sometimes it’s a long walk to or between terminal gates.

The Transportation Security Administration and the Amputee Coalition both have resources to help amputees make their dream vacations as smooth as possible. There are great traveling tips on those websites, and you can search for other travel tips to give you other ideas and tips on how to make your first journey as a new amputee a pleasant one. 

 So Happy and Safe travels and be sure to relax, rest and take a lot of pictures!! You have earned it! Let me know how you do discovering your new travel normal.  Happy Travels! Bon voyage!! Live your life unlimited!!

These tips are informed suggestions. If you do not feel comfortable with them, please do not attempt them. Instead as always contact your medical professional or your prosthetist for help and advice. 

That’s me in the middle at Durango! All I needed was a unicorn hat and a pink tutu for fun on the slopes!

That’s me in the middle at Durango! All I needed was a unicorn hat and a pink tutu for fun on the slopes!

If you have a question for me about living as an amputee, ask! And if I don’t know the answer, I will find it for you, and I will leave no stone unturned to help you find your own personal new normal. If there is a topic you would like me to feature please let me know! I want us all to grow strong together.  Email me at Dawn@dankmeyer.com. This email is not secure, so if you wish to keep any specific health information private, you should call us!

Quote for the Month: “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” -Author unknown.

Dawn Miranda recently joined Dankmeyer, Inc. as a Prosthetist Assistant after relocating from San Antonio, TX.  To read more about Dawn on our Clinical Staff page, click here.

Read our New Blog: "Our New Normal"!

Our New Normal!

“Helping Others Discover and Live an Unlimited Lifestyle.”

Welcome to our new Dankmeyer blog!! My name is Dawn Miranda, and I am a new amputee of only two and a half years. I hope this blog page will answer your questions, uplift you through education, and inspire hope that we will get to our new normal together. 

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I was adopted as a baby and raised on a farm in upstate New York by a loving family. I am a mother, wife and grandmother. I am a two-time Non-Hodgkin’s cancer survivor and now a new left below the knee amputee. I decided a long time ago that I am not defined by my conditions - I am defined by my achievements. As a baby I learned to walk, and as a cancer survivor I learned to walk again as the disease took a toll on my body. And finally, as an amputee, I rose once again to learn to walk, then run… never looking back - only forward to a life that I knew I wanted. A life with no limits. 

So please join me on this blog and take my hand as we tackle the challenges life puts on our road of life. I hope my knowledge and experience help you, but as always, if you have any questions about your health or your prosthesis, you should contact your prosthetist or your physician.

If you have a question for me about living as an amputee, ask! And if I don’t know the answer, I will find it for you, and I will leave no stone unturned to help you find your own personal new normal. If there is a topic you would like me to feature please let me know! I want us all to grow strong together.  Email me at Dawn@dankmeyer.com. This email is not secure, so if you wish to keep any specific health information private, you should call us!

Quote for the Month: “Remember how far you have come, not just how far you have to go. You are not where you want to be, but neither are you where you use to be.” - Rick Warren.

Dawn Miranda recently joined Dankmeyer, Inc. as a Prosthetist Assistant after relocating from San Antonio, TX.  To read more about Dawn on our Clinical Staff page, click here.