April Newsletter Vol. 8 Issue 4
Isaac Feliciano (Below Knee) was featured in a CBS news story highlighting his work as a full-time firefighter. Isaac, who had wanted to be a firefighter since he was young, was initially denied employment by the fire department due to his amputation. Refusing to give up, he eventually won in court and now works full time for the Paterson, New Jersey fire department.
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Isaac Feliciano
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To read the CBS story about Isaac go to: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/03/01/amputee-firefighter-working-to-inspire-the-disabled
Wilfred Kirkaldy (Below Knee), a 6’ 11” former NCAA Division 1 basketball player at West Virginia University, was honored during an alumni celebration at WVU. His basketball career was cut abruptly short due to injuries sustained in a car accident. He has worked for the National Basketball Association, as a motivational speaker, and now works as a physical education teacher in Manhattan.  |
Will Kirkaldy
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Will’s story is highlighted in a story and video interview. To read the story and view his interview, go to: http://www.wvillustrated.com/wvubasketball/story/id/808
Nicole Jones (Bilateral Above Knee) was featured in an in-depth video on TIME magazine's website entitled: Tricking the Brain to Feel No Pain: It’s Done with Mirrors. The video focuses on the treatment of phantom limb pain with the use of mirror therapy. Nicole is one of the first bilateral amputees to be using this innovative approach for the treatment of phantom limb pain. Go to the following link to view the video: http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,801403633001_2059155,00.html
Touro College Visits A Step Ahead
On March 25, Touro College’s doctoral physical therapy students attended an informative lecture at A Step Ahead Prosthetics. Thirty students along with Professor Robert Troiano were given a presentation on the latest advances in prosthetics. The lecture -- given by Erik Schaffer, C.P., Bernie Guzman, C.P., Gwyeth Smith, C.P. -- focused on prosthetic socket design, advances in prosthetic components, and patient evaluation and follow-up care.
Many thanks go to A Step Ahead patients Craig Pratka (Above Knee), Chris Levi (Bilateral Above Knee), Jed McGiffen (Hip Disarticulation), and Jamol Pilgrim (Above Knee), who gave their time to demonstrate to the students that with the prosthetic care and programs at A Step Ahead, they can live life without limitations.
New Swim Prosthesis
A Step Ahead’s prosthetics staff has designed a new prosthesis for water activities including swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving. The prosthesis has an adjustable ankle, which allows the user to adjust the position of the foot and ankle for walking on land and for swimming and other water activities. If you are interested in a prosthesis for water sports or a customized prosthesis for any other activity, call us at 516-681-3484.
Prosthetic Art of the Month
Art is an expression of the creator's inner-self. Art has no boundaries and is understood through all languages. Art is passion and a way we view the world.
The prosthetics staff at A Step Ahead helped bring Drew Mancuso's personal design for his below the knee prosthesis to life. The custom socket represents his flair and flashy style. For more information on how our prosthetic staff can work with you to personalize your prosthesis, call us at 516-681-3484.
Amputee Wrestler Wins National Collegiate Championship:
To win a national title in a sport is a major accomplishment in itself, but beating all able-bodied wrestlers as a hemipelvictomy amputee ranks as an amazing achievement. On March 20, Anthony Robles won the Division I NCAA wrestling championship in the 125-pound weight class. To read the amazing story about Anthony and watch the video of his final match, go to the following links:
http://www.afro.com/sections/sports/story.htm?storyid=4416
http://www.cjbk.com/blog/TomMcConnell/blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10217739
Double Amputee Comes Closer to Qualifying for the Olympic Games:
Oscar Pistorius, a bilateral below knee amputee from South Africa, is edging closer to his goal of competing in the 2012 Olympic games. Oscar recently ran the 400 meters in 45.61, which was only 0.06 seconds short of the A standard and qualified him for the B standard for the Olympics. If Oscar does qualify for the 2012 Olympics in London, he will be the first track and field athlete with limb loss to compete in the Olympics and the second to compete with world championship-level competition. In 2010, Amy Palmiero-Winters (Below Knee) became the first amputee track athlete to compete on the world stage with able–bodied athletes at the 2010 24-Hour World Championships in Brieve, France. To read more about Oscar Pistorius go to the following article from BBC Sport: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/disability_sport/9434999.stm
Amputee Coalition of America Peer Support Training Class
A Step Ahead is finalizing plans for an ACA Peer Support Training class to be held at Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, New York.
A Step Ahead Prosthetics will be sponsoring this one-day class in the spring (date and exact location to be announced), which will be taught by an ACA-certified peer support trainer.
To become an ACA-certified peer visitor, a person with limb loss or difference or one of their family members must pass a Peer Visitor Training Seminar. It must have been at least 2 years since their amputation and they must have adjusted well to their loss and be celebrating a full life in the way they choose to live it.
The ACA’s Peer Visitor program was established on this important premise. An experienced, well-trained peer can offer encouragement and information from a place, and at a pace, that an overwhelmed individual can better absorb.
Based on principles of adult learning, the full-day course incorporates a variety of highly interactive elements, including role-play, games, brainstorming and case studies.
The course focuses on rehearsing peer visitation skills in a number of situations and giving and receiving feedback. If you are interested in being considered for this peer support training class, contact us at info@astepaheadonline.com
A Step Ahead Launches New Video Website
A Step Ahead is now sharing the stories of our patients and how they live life without limitations on our new video website. To watch videos of the success stories of A Step Ahead patients and the latest A Step Ahead events go to: http://www.livelifewithoutlimitations.net
Ben Simmons Honored By USA Triathlon
Junior Team A Step Ahead Ski Trip
Junior Team A Step Ahead took its annual ski trip to Bromley Mountain in Vermont this year. From March 11-13, the juniors enjoyed a great weekend of skiing and fun. Ryan Fitzpatrick (Above Knee), Daneroy Lawrence (Bilateral Above Knee), Tara Dunfee (Below Knee), and Jamol Pilgrim (Above Knee) all experienced the challenges of downhill skiing for the first time. James Lozano (Bilateral Below Knee), Cate Hughes (Below Knee), Rachel Grusse (Bilateral Below Knee), and Jake Lillis (Bilateral Above Knee) returned to the slopes to continue to hone their skills on the mountain. Accompanying the juniors were snowboarder Craig Pratka (Above Knee), Amy Palmiero-Winters, and parents Maura Dunfee, David Lillis, Deidre Fitzpatrick and Hemsley Hughes.
Haley Tyrell Attends Ski Program
11-year-old Haley Tyrrell (Hip Disarticulation) attended a one-week ski and winter activity program in Steamboat Springs, Colorado from February 28 to March 6. The Sunshine Kids, a non-profit organization that provides programs for children with cancer, sponsored the program. Haley was one of twenty-four children between the ages of eleven and seventeen from across the country that were chosen for this program.
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Haley Tyrrell
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Haley had a great time: “Colorado was amazing. I love to ski and I made friends that I will have for life. Besides skiing we went snowmobiling, tubing, swimming, horse carriage ride. Steamboat was beautiful. If I ever get the opportunity to go again, I would.”
Queens Half Marathon
The 13.1 mile New York half-marathon was held on April 2 in historic Flushing Meadows Corona Park, home of the 1939 and 1964 World's Fair. Finishing the race for Team A Step Ahead were Jean Draper (Below Knee) from Chicago in 2:14:46, Ben Simmons (Above Knee) in 2:11:56 and Amy Palmiero-Winters (Below Knee) in 1:52:32
ASPIRE 10K
The 34th annual APSIRE 10K race was held in Plainview New York. Nick Roumonada (Below Knee) finished in 43:40. Nine-year-old Cate Hughes (Below Knee) ran her first 10k race in 1:27:16, and seven-year-old Anthony Desano (Above Knee) ran the 5 kilometer race in 1:04:19.
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Nick Roumonada
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Anthony Desano
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Team A Step Ahead 2011 Schedule:
Adults:
* Gran Fondo 107-mile bike race - May 8* Hershey Park weekend - June
* Hope & Possibility 5 mile race Central Park - June 26
* NYC Triathlon - August 7
* Westchester Triathlon - September 24-25
* NYC Marathon - November 6
* Silverman Triathlon - Nevada November 5-6
Juniors:
* Hershey Park weekend - June
* Hope & Possibility 5 mile race Central Park - June 26
* NYC Triathlon - August 7
* Camping Shawangunk Mountains - August
* Westchester Triathlon - September 24-25
* NYC Marathon - November 6
* Silverman Triathlon - November 5-6
The ASPIRE Support Group meetings are on the last Wednesday of each month at 6:30pm at the Hospital for Special Surgery located at 535 East 70th Street, NY. For more information about the ASPIRE support group meetings, contact Charlie Steele at charlieatl@aol.com or (212) 877-7050.
New York-Presbyterian Hospital Amputee Education and Support Group Every first Friday of the month 10:00-12:00 PM. Milstein Hospital 8 Garden North Dayroom (8th floor rehab unit) Milstein Hospital Building 177 Fort Washington Ave. For more information, contact Jackee Callender at 212-305-8483.
Rusk Rehab Amputee Support Group (34th Street/1st avenue) meets the last Thursday of each month at 6:00 PM. For more information about the Rusk Rehab Support Group, contact Dr. Jeff Heckman at 631-873-6223 or by email at: jtheckman@yahoo.com
The Long Island Amputee Support Group meets the first Saturday of each month at South Side Hospital, 301 East Main Street in Bayshore. Contact Jodi Adler at 631-968-3330.
