Newsletter
Volume 5
Issue 10
October 2011
The October meeting was held at Spring Creek BBQ in
Richardson. There were 45 in attendance; 27 of whom
were amputees. Sandy Seibert & Marge Eckert
greeted everyone at the door and made name labels for
them. After dinner, Sandy welcomed everyone,
especially those who were there for the very first time:
Ismael Castonon, Chelsea Heard, Jessie Ned,
Melissa Costello and David Thompson. Also, we
were happy to see several DAN members who have not
been able to come for a long time--David Norcott,
Garland Chapmond and Rose Carter.
Randy Mecca told us about about his annual Disc Golf
Tournament that is planned for October 29 and 30.
It will be held at the B.B. Owen Disc Golf Park at
Walnut Hill Lane and Plano Road in Dallas. Contact
Randy at rmecca57@yahoo.com or call him at
(972) 238-2810 for more information.
For the
schedule of events, see p. 4 of this newsletter.
Tommy Donahue's Legapalooza XXXI will be held
on Sunday, February 12, 2012 and we are all invited to
come and participate in this annual event benefiting the
Dallas Amputee Network. He came to show us the new
poster and will have the website up and running soon.
Last June, we were able to send 15 delegates to the
Amputee Coalition Annual Conference in Kansas City,
MO, and we look forward to working with Tommy to
make it a huge success this year as well. If you want to
help with obtaining contributions or door prizes to be
raffled off, please call Tommy at (214) 641-6833.
On October 17th, College Park (CPI) came to tell us
about the new foot prosthetics they offer. David Frost is
the local representative and he had examples of all the
College Park feet and how they differ for different
activity levels. Steve Hoover is a prosthetist with CPI
and has been an above-knee amputee for most of his
life. He told us his story and how he got into prosthetics,
then offered to answer questions and work with anyone
individually who had a prosthetic problem. David and
Steve both stressed how important it is for an amputee
to be involved in the decision of which foot is best for
them, and to do their own research to understand the
different features and functions of the foot.
www.dallasamputeenetwork.org
Hotline (972) 470-0505
The next DAN meeting will be from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on
Tuesday, November 15th, at the Spring Creek
Barbecue, Richardson, 270 N. Central Exp/Hwy. 75.
Dr. Tae Chong, a hand transplant surgeon from UTSouthwestern, and Dr. Sampath, a surgeon from the VA
Hospital in Dallas, will be our special speakers. Also,
Bernie Diamond and Rob Dodson from Advanced Arm
Dynamics will be there and other medical professionals
from UT-Southwestern are planning to attend as well.
We offer our sincere thanks to our wonderful
sponsors for 2011:
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
Dallas Prosthetics, Inc. Plano (214) 701-1550
ALLTECH O&P – Burleson, Desoto,
Granbury (972) 709-6070
United Access – Garland (972) 240-8839
Dallas
Accessible
Taxi
offers
reasonable
transportation to people with disabilities 24 hours a day,
7 days a week, and will provide a wheelchair at no extra
charge. Available to take you shopping, or to doctors'
appointments, movies, the airport -- wherever you need
to go. Friends and family members can ride free. Go to
contactus@dallasaccessibletaxi.com or call for a ride at
(214) 207-1821.
Patty Williamson brought information about a new
therapy for pain relief that involves no surgery or
medications. Patty said it produces amazing results for
Peripheral Neuropathy, injuries and Carpal Tunnel
Syndrome. Here is Patty's story:
My first cancer occurred when I was 37, resulting in
radical surgery and radiation. I had over 5 related
surgeries in the next 10 years. Fast forward to 2006.
After suffering from a painful, swollen left foot since
2001, I went to Duke University for diagnosis. They told
me the same thing all the other doctors had told me,
"We don't know." Although they found other things,
they couldn't explain the foot. I developed what was
believed to be lymph edema and returned home for
therapy. The therapist who was treating my leg didn't
believe that was the problem so she got me an
appointment with a rehabilitation doctor. She finally got
the correct diagnosis - Leiomyoscarcoma. Sarcomas
account for about 1% of all cancers and my type is
just one of the sarcomas. It was too advanced to save
my foot so I had a below-the- knee amputation in April
of 2006. After completing chemotherapy, I was fitted
with my first prosthesis. It was good to be out of the
wheelchair. Physical therapy before and after being
fitted really helped. Shortly after that, I developed
Peripheral Neuropathy in my affected limb and my other
leg and foot. I had tried just about everything to help it
but nothing had worked. In fact, it caused my phantom
pain to return. Then I saw an ad for Scientific Therapy's
new wave stimulation and decided that I had to try it.
It's painless , no medicine, and covered by Medicare and
most major medical insurance. I am about half way
through the planned treatments and already can tell a
big difference. I can bend my toes again, have less
discomfort, and better balance. I'm excited about the
prospects of even more improvement.
The Clinic Manager is Ida D. Cipriano; her number is
(972) 867-0600. The location is 1441 Coit Rd, Suite C,
Plano, TX and you may also check them out at
www.scientifictherapy.com.
PALS (Prosthetic & Limb-Deficient Support for
children) will hold a meeting on Wednesday, October
26, in the TX Scottish Rite Woodlawn Room, Main
Entrance, at 7:00 p.m. A light supper is provided and
there will be planned activities for the younger children.
Costumes are welcome and treat bags will be handed
out. The main speaker will be DAN member, Craig Till.
ADAPT of Texas has promoted disability rights, dignity
and independence for over two decades. "Access is a
Civil Right" is their motto, and they fight to ensure that
all businesses, public accommodations and government
facilities have ramps, handicap parking spaces and other
wheelchair access features. For more information on
how to be involved or to voice a complaint, call ADAPT
of TX at (512) 442-0252.
National Park Accessibility for Amputees
(a letter to the Dallas Amputee Network- Oct 12
from Dan Johnsen, Webmaster)
I recently completed a week trip to Zion National Park
and Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, along with a
couple National Monuments and State Parks. The
purpose of my trip was photography, but it could just as
easily have been a sightseeing trip; southern Utah is
beautiful! As the trip progressed, however, I was struck
by inconsistent descriptions of the facilities and trails;
until we got to each I had no idea which were accessible
to wheelchairs or leg prosthetic users, which trails were
paved, rock or dirt, which were flat, rolling, too narrow
or too steep. That made me wonder how many of you
(and others throughout the amputee community) just
stay away from our National Parks, National Monuments,
State Parks and other recreational areas because
accessibility is uncertain?
A couple years ago I participated in a photography
workshop in Big Sur, CA. I was able to do most
everything I wanted to do in that workshop, but I
always had the feeling that I was slowing down the
able-bodied participants and that the workshop was, in
some cases, altered to accommodate me. I wouldn’t
mind visiting a place like Big Sur on my own, taking a
little slower pace and still seeing all the sights without
impacting anyone else’s workshop. But I didn’t know
where to go, when to be there or what to look for.
So, as I approach retirement (again), I’m considering a
little travel, collecting and publishing real, usable data on
accessibility of some of these recreational areas,
specifically as it relates to amputees. That information
could be expanded to include things you can expect to
see or photograph, when to go, where to stay, map
directions, GPS coordinates, other local attractions and
perhaps what kind of accessible facilities you can find in
the local towns (although that can be tougher, since
commercial facilities can change quickly). While the
information could be of interest to the able-bodied as
well, it would be assembled specifically to benefit the
amputee community.
To be clear, I’m not talking about helping to fund such a
trip. But if this kind of information can be published, it
could encourage amputees to experience our National
Parks and other recreational areas, and do so with some
knowledge of what will, or will not, work before they
travel. Please let me know if you would take advantage
of recreational information like that, if it needs a broader
or more narrow scope, if it needs to take a different
direction altogether or if it is of no interest to you. I’ll
appreciate your help in making some sense out of this
idea. Dan
webmaster@dallasamputeenetwork.org
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Dr. Stanley Thaw of HBO2 America gave a very
interesting presentation about how hyperbaric oxygen
therapy heals wounds and controls persistent infections.
The process involves spending three to four hours in a
pressurized hyperbaric chamber similar to a submarine,
wearing a headset that infuses 100% pure oxygen
directly into the lungs and subsequently all the tissues in
the body. He gave several examples of successful
treatments, one being the reattachment and healing of a
man’s nose that was severed in an accident.
Other facts about it are:
 Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO2) has been
used since 1943 when the U.S. Navy adopted it
for treatment of decompression sickness and air
embolism. Many diabetics develop persistent
problem infections in foot wounds due to tissue
hypoxia.
 Oxygen is a crucial factor in wound healing and
the control of infection.
 Diabetics with risk of lower limb amputation may
benefit from HBO2 therapy and they should be
tested to see if it would help them.
 In most cases Medicare covers the cost.
Free transportation will be provided to and from the
hyperbaric oxygen therapy location. To contact Dr. Thaw
for more information about the process and the benefits,
call (817) 255-1170.
Sandy introduced Debra Kerper, the travel agent from
Easy Access Travel, who is arranging the Amputee
Coalition Cruise scheduled for December 2012. She
had brochures with the prices and the details of the
event. You can call her at 1-800-920-8989 for more info.
OCTOBER 10th PROGRAM:
Our special speakers were Jennifer Griffin and
Heather Early. Jennifer related her story of how she
lost all her limbs due to a deadly infection which nearly
ended her life, but she not only pulled through and went
back to work, but has started up a nonprofit corporation
called the P.L.A.Y. Foundation, which raises money to
help amputees. Heather told us more about their
foundation which awards $2000 grants to worthy
amputees across the country, and encouraged us to visit
their website--- www.playfoundation.org.
VALUABLE RESOURCES
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 Craig Gavras 1-888-235-5462
HIYH Medical Services & Repairs
David Stevenson 469-867-8727
Words of Wisdom
God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.
Growing old is inevitable, growing UP is
optional.
There’s no key to happiness. The door’s
always open.
Silence is often misinterpreted, but never
misquoted.
Faith is the ability to not panic.
Laugh every day; it's like inner jogging.
As a child of God, prayer is kind of like
calling home every day.
Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be
bent out of shape.
When we get tangled up in our problems, be
still; God wants us to be still so He can
untangle the knot.
A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.
He who dies with the most toys is still dead.
We do not remember days, but moments.
Life is moving too fast - so enjoy your
precious moments.
Surviving and living your life successfully
requires courage. The goals and dreams
you're seeking require courage and risktaking.
Learn from the turtle, it only makes progress
when it sticks out its neck.
We are continually faced with great
opportunities disguised as unsolvable
problems.
Don't ask God to guide your footsteps if
you're not willing to move your feet.
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2011 Disc Games Event Schedule
Saturday, October 29th
9-10am
Registration
The first half of the day is free and is intended
to both instruct, and determine the skill level of
participants for afternoon tournament play.
10am – 6pm Flex T-times for Disc Golf
Already know how to play? Bring out some
first-timers for a special prize.
Please Pre-register by October 20th in order to
receive tournament disc the day of the event,
simply e-mail or call with your name and
number in your group. Free Event Disc to
first 100 to register.
10:00am-11:00am Clinic and Skills tests
Learn the basics of Disc Golf as well as rules of
the games for competition.
11:00am
Distance Competition
All players will receive 5 throws with discs of
their choice and record best distance. Top 5
players in each division advance to finals for
best-of- 3 throws to determine winner.
12-1pm
Lunch break and Disc Horseshoes
1:00pm
Accuracy Competition
All players will receive 5 throws with discs of
choice. Players must land discs inside of three
circles measuring 6 feet in diameter and whose
center points are located 20, 30, and 45 feet
away from the starting point. Points will be
awarded for each disc that lands and stays
entirely inside of the given “Target area.”
Any throw which touches the line will be
disqualified. 5 Points will be awarded for disc
landing and staying inside 1st circle (20 feet
away) 10 Points will be awarded for disc
landing and staying inside 2nd circle (30 feet
away) 15 Points will be awarded for disc
landing and staying inside 3rd circle (45 feet
away) Points will be totaled and top 5 in each
division will advance to finals.
2:00 Maximum Time Aloft Competition
All disabled players will receive 5 throws with
discs of choice and record “Hang time” or time
aloft by stop-watch. The “Hang time” will be
measured from the time when the disc is
released by the player until the time it hits the
ground. This is a modified version of MTA and
contestants are NOT required to catch their
own throws. Able-bodied players must
catch own disc before it hits the ground.
3:00pm
Wheelchair Doubles
Players in wheelchairs partner with able-bodied
players (Disc Golf}
6:30 pm
Dinner-in-a-Disc
Enjoy dinner served in a Glow Disc and Putt for
prizes. ($10 for all)
7:30pm Great Pumpkin Smash and
Night Golf
Snuff out candles in Jack-o-lantern for prizes
and night golf round (putters and approach
discs only for golf...no drivers)
Charity Fund Raiser
Sunday, October 30th
10 am-6pm
Flex T-times for Disc Golf
and games all day
$10 per round Grab 3 friends to form a
foursome or come out by yourself and we’ll put
you in a group with some new friends.
6pm (Approx.)
ACE run for prizes
to follow last group in.
ACE Pot will split if more than one hole-in-one
is made. If no ACE in any round, all players will
receive 3 shots per paid round played for CTP
after final round.
All players will be eligible for prizes in their
respective divisions. Gift certificates, dinners,
prizes galore!
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