Patient Stories: Show Your Mettle for Limb Loss Awareness Month

Each year, the Amputee Coalition (AC) designates April as Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month (LLAM). Throughout the month, amputee support groups across America hold events to “Show Your Mettle”. They hold walk/run/roll events in their cities to help educate and empower people with limb loss differences to rise up and reach their potential. 

The AC encourages anyone who is comfortable with their prosthesis to use social media to post pictures showing their mettle with pride and positivity.  Dankmeyer would like you to take a minute and read about patients that want to show you their mettle! Let their brave stories and efforts empower you to know that we all have differences and no two people are alike. These differences are what make us all unique and we all need to embrace each other. 

Know that everyone needs to “Be Their Own Kind of Beautiful.” Limb loss does not mean it is the end of our world, it’s just a new beginning to finding “Our Own New Normal”. Speak up! and Speak Out! because without federal and state support we could lose the right to proper prosthetic care.

Thank you to the SHOW YOUR METTLE TEAM 2020!

Patient Stories: William Ewing Update

Not too long ago, Mr. William “Bill” Ewing was featured in one our patient stories, after he appeared with his clinician, Mark Treasure, CP, BOCO on a local radio show. Mr. Ewing has participated with Dankmeyer staff in a local 5K as a fundraising effort for the Children’s League, and has been active in helping to get the Cumberland area Amputee Support Group off the ground.

In addition to all these activities, he adds painting to his musical talents. He stopped in recently to share some of his art with us and was very happy for us to share with you! (if you want to read more about Mr. Ewing, scroll on down through our story archives.)

Patient Stories: Gordon Sisler

My name is Gordon Sisler. I am 55 years old. I am disabled since birth with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenital. It affects my muscles and my joints. I wear leg braces to walk, along with crutches to assist. I also use a power chair. (Mr. Sisler wears bilateral knee ankle foot orthoses and his clinician is Mark Treasure, CP, BOCO at Dankmeyer’s Western Maryland office in the Cumberland area.)

I have been married for 27 years now to Monica. We met in college. We have two adult daughters, Lydia and Ella.

I have had a successful career in computers. Before I had to retire, I was working at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab and have multiple Microsoft Certifications.

I enjoy life to the fullest. I hunt, fish and camp. I developed an adaptive device for a rifle that I had made so that I could hunt. I am a firm believer in Jesus and try to live according.

Patient Stories: Casey Hill and his Wood Cheneau Rigo Brace

I was diagnosed with scoliosis in June 2018. My doctor sent me to see Marlies Cabell (Dankmeyer CPO) and I got my first Wood Cheneau Rigo (WCR) brace in September 2018. It was pretty cool because it looked like carbon fiber. I come back every couple months so we can make adjustments as I grow. That way any spots that bother me can be fixed. It took some getting used to, but now it’s just part of everyday life & part of my daily routine.

I got my second WCR brace in July 2019 because I had grown so much that I needed a new one. This time I choose arctic camo as the design! We went to see the orthopedic in October 2019 and he did X-rays. They showed I had grown a little more than 3” in just one year’s time and there was no change to the curvature of my spine! This was great news because we knew the WCR was doing what it was supposed to be doing.

I wear the brace almost all of the time, but I am still able to play the sports I love. I currently play football (#92), basketball, and rugby. I wear the brace for the time I’m supposed to and choose to take a break to play sports. I put the brace back on after my practices and games are finished. It’s all about managing when I’m allowed to take breaks.

My dad has scoliosis too and just had spinal surgery. This helps me to understand the importance of wearing the brace because I don’t want to end up having surgery like he did. Wearing the brace is really not that big of a deal because it has become part of my normal routine and now I don’t really even notice it. Now that I have had a brace for a year and a half I think it’s pretty cool because it makes me different and I like that! - Casey Hill

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Patient Stories: Diane Clark starts a Cumberland Support Group!

We are incredibly happy to let our Western Maryland community know there is now a support group for those living with limb loss or limb difference! The group also welcomes their families, friends, and caregivers.  This group was organized locally by long time amputee Diane Clark, who many of you know.  Diane has contributed to our patient stories several times. She also recently appeared on WCBC 107.1 Radio with our Cumberland clinician Mark Treasure, CP, BOCO.

While there are other support groups in other parts of the state, Western Maryland has been without. Diane has worked really hard to get this group going and she would like to see you all at the next meeting. This new group (which is going to need a name!) meets on the last Friday of each month at 6:00 pm at the Allegany College of Maryland in the Allied Health Building in room 237 (which is on the upper level). We appreciate that ACM has provided this space for the meeting. NOTE: There will NOT be a meeting in November. The next meeting will be 12/26/2019.

The group is new and needs to grow, so Diane asks for anyone with limb loss or limb difference in the area to please come and show your support of each other. Dankmeyer is not affiliated with this group, only to show our support and help Diane get the word out! So, if you know of anyone who would like to come, please spread the word and bring them along.

For a list of all support groups in the Maryland area, you can visit our Support Group page by clicking here.