Newsletter
Volume 6
Issue 2
February 2012
The February meeting was held at Spring Creek BBQ in
Richardson. There were 40 attendees, 25 of whom were
amputees. Sandy Seibert & Marge Eckert greeted
everyone at the door and made the name badges. After
dinner, Sandy welcomed everyone, especially amputees
who were there for the first time: Alice Alt, Lee Boyd,
James Baber, Daniel Bell, Jody Graham and Jay
Bell. We hope they will join us at future meetings.
Tommy Donahue's Legapalooza XXXI was held on
Sunday, February 12, at Milo Butterfingers and
many of us were there to participate in this annual event
benefiting the Dallas Amputee Network. Last June,
because of this huge benefit for our group, we were able
to send 15 delegates to the Amputee Coalition Annual
Conference in Kansas City, MO, and it was a huge
success this year as well, bringing in over $10,000!
Tommy came to tell the group about it-- there was a
great band, food and drinks, and many great raffle
prizes. Many, many thanks to Tommy for all his hard
work raising money for our support group; we are
forever grateful to him!
For more information about this spectacular event,
including Tommy's story or about DAN in general, go to
www.legapalooza.com.
Sandra Prudhomme of DARS (Department of Assistive
& Rehabilitative Services) was there to tell us about all
the ways they help amputees; she has been especially
attentive to our needs in the past. A show of hands
revealed how many people in our group have benefited
from Sandra's dedication and help to amputees.
Jessica Mitchell of the Parkland Trauma Unit came to
talk about the new division focusing on psychological
problems of amputees suffering from traumatic injuries,
and how important it is for Peer Visitors (amputees from
our support group trained to counsel and comfort new
amputees and their families) to help with the transition
into the world of limb loss.
Jody Graham is an amputee working for the newly
structured Synergy Orthotics & Prosthetics in our area
and came to offer a new job opportunity for someone in
our group meeting the qualifications to be a Peer Mentor
and patient advocate for the company. For more
information, please contact Jody at (713) 806-1534 or
jgraham@tmcortho.com.
www.dallasamputeenetwork.org
Hotline (972) 470-0505
The next DAN meeting will be from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.
on Tuesday, March 13th, at La Hacienda Ranch in
Dallas, at 17390 Preston Road. Dallas Prosthetics will
be hosting the meeting and providing a buffet for us.
They will present the program and some of their
amputee clients will speak to the group about their
satisfaction with their prosthetics. Also, Rose Carter,
one of our long-time members, will tell her story, which
we never tire of hearing; she is a very special member
of DAN and we look forward to seeing her again.
Our sincere thanks to our 2011 sponsors:
Strobel & Associates Prosthetics, Inc.
Plano (972) 516-9538
Tommy Donahue’s Legapalooza Benefit
Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics, Inc.
Dallas, Garland, Plano (972) 226-6496
Synergy Orthotics & Prosthetics
Plano, Dallas (972) 769-8344
Excell Orthotics & Prosthetics
Denton (940) 243-4198
Doug Brooks, CEO of Brinker International
and Limbs for Life Board Member
J C Penney Community Service Award
M-Power Prosthetics and Orthotics
Dallas (214) 265- 5060
O&P Designs, Inc.
Dallas, Garland (972) 487-1951
HBO2 America - Dr. Stanley Thaw
North Richland Hills (817) 255-1170
Advanced Arm Dynamics of Texas, LLC
Dallas (214) 260-3197
Scott Sabolich Prosthetics & Research
Dallas, Oklahoma City (877) 226-5424
College Park Industries (800) 728 7950
Dallas Prosthetics, Inc. Plano (469) 241-1477
ALLTECH O&P – Burleson, Desoto,
Granbury (972) 709-6070
Suh-Jen Lin, PT, PhD TWU School of Physical Therapy
United Access – Garland (972) 240-8839
Kaci Stafford is a student at TWU and one of her
assignments was to attend an amputee support group
meeting. She told us about her interest in the field of
prosthetics and how interesting it was to get to know
so many amputees at our meeting-- we were very
happy that she came to be a part of our group. There
were several other TWU students from the Physical
Therapy Department who told us about a new Gait
Study being conducted at their facility; they need single
limb amputee volunteers to analyze walking patterns for
their research. Must be using a prosthesis for at least 6
months and be medically stable. For only one hour of
time, the amputee will receive compensation of $20 and
a free pedometer. Call (214) 706-2461 to find out more.
OPAF is now the Orthotic & Prosthetic
Activities Foundation
OPAF currently offers eight First Clinics to meet the
needs of those with physical challenges seeking
adaptive recreation. Current clinics include First Volley
(tennis), First Swing (golf), First Swim, First Dive
(SCUBA), McKeever’s First Ride (therapeutic
horsemanship), First Paddle (kayaking), First Climb
(rock climbing) and First Dance (social partner dance).
OPAF is seeking to introduce four more Firsts in 2012
which would include Fish, Sail, Walk/Run and Kick.
December 16, 2011 – Waterloo, Iowa – OPAF has
completed all of the legal requirements necessary to
change its name to the Orthotic & Prosthetic Activities
Foundation. The final paperwork was filed with the state
of Delaware on Dec. 6, 2011 to make the change official.
To see a listing of scheduled First Clinics, please visit
the OPAF website at www.opfund.org
Robin Burton, Executive Director
OPAF & The First Clinics (319) 235-4318
***************************************************************
OPAF was founded in 1995 as the Orthotic and
Prosthetic Athletic Assistance Fund and was designated
at that time as The Official Philanthropy of the U.S.
Orthotic and Prosthetic Community by the O&P National
Office.
The organization has proudly carried this
designation for the past 16 years and looks forward to
continue to serve in this capacity moving forward. After
the games in Atlanta were completed the word Athletic
was dropped from the official name while a new mission
was pursued. OPAF has since earned a reputation for
hosting world class clinics to help those served by the
orthotic and prosthetic community to become more
active, at no charge to participants. The OPAF board
determined that the name change was necessary to
ensure that the mission of the organization was identified
with the name. Since the OPAF designation is so well
known it was also determined that any name change
should also allow the OPAF letters to remain intact. A
new look for the organization, along with a brand new
website, will be revealed during the Academy Annual
Meeting in Atlanta!
Will Malmskog has been a member of DAN for a long
time. He's a massage therapist working at The
Sunflower Shoppe in Colleyville. They find natural
solutions to problems such as weight control, hormone
imbalance, thyroid or allergy problems, and stress.
They do nutritional testing there, and offer educational
seminars on many health issues. They are located at
5100 Hwy. 121 in Colleyville. (817) 399-9100.
“We are delighted that the name change to Orthotic and
Prosthetic Activities Foundation reflects the type of
services offered by OPAF. The First Clinics have
continued to grow and each offers introductory adaptive
instruction by the most qualified instructors available.
OPAF remains committed to our mission and we look
forward to introducing even more firsts during 2012",
said OPAF President, Michael Burton. The OPAF Board
approved the name change at their recent meeting in
Las Vegas during the AOPA National Assembly. New
officers for OPAF for 2012 include Michael Burton as
president, Scott Williamson, CAE, as vice president, Lisa
Arbogast as treasurer, and Don Hardin as immediate
past president. New board members include Justina
Shipley, Tami Jones, and Bruce Jaster of the Dallas
Amputee Network. Justina is a Certified Orthotist,
Fellow of the Academy, and director of orthotics and
prosthetics for Shriners Hospital for Children in
Shreveport. Tami Jones is the president of OpalStar
Strategies, and Bruce is the president of The Jaster
Companies. OPAF is honored that each of these new
directors has agreed to share their time and talents with
the organization.
Extremity Games 7 will be held June 22 & 23 at the
Texas Ski Ranch in New Braunfels. For those not
familiar, The Extremity Games is the X-Games for
amputees and include competitions and clinics in
Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Wakeboarding, Disc Golf,
Rock Climbing, Mixed Martial Arts, Skateboarding,
Power-lifting and more. In addition to the Extremity
games we are also planning a Tubing Trip down the
Guadalupe on Sunday June 24. You can come and
watch or compete in the Games and then spend a day
in the sun Sunday floating down the river with friends.
For more information on Extremity Games or Tubing,
contact Randy Mecca at rmecca57@yahoo.com or call
him at 214-533-1983 (cell) 972-238-2810 (Home).
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Ellen Fernandes 972-234-5966
REACH of Dallas 214-630-4796
Easter Seals Bridgette Androtti 972-939-3900
Angel Food Ministries 1-877-366-3646
DARS Sandra Prudhomme 214-778-4950
Limbs For Life 1-888-235-5462
HIYH Medical Services & Repairs
David Stevenson 469-867-8727
Finish each day and be done with it.
You have done what you could; some blunders and
absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you
can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it
serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered
with your old nonsense.
---Ralph Waldo Emerson
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