inMotion Magazine

Living Free 3 For many people, asking for help can be hard to do. It requires facing the reality of missing a limb, which can lead to difficult emotions like shame, grief and self-doubt. Accepting help can also fuel fears of becoming a burden, or losing your independence. But a visit from a peer visitor or another amputee can not only ease these fears, it can help you find the answers to questions you’re not even ready to ask yet. One of the biggest misconceptions about peer visitors and peer support groups is that they mainly exist to help people with emotional difficulty in coping with their situation. But these individuals and groups can also provide valuable, practical tips about the things they do and the equipment they use to adapt to their limb loss. You will learn that there is no single “best” or “right” way to cope – there are many pathways in the journey to recovery. Although peer support is especially critical for new amputees, this is actually only the beginning of your journey, and the Amputee Coalition is there for you every step of the way. We can connect you with someone who’s been where you are now – someone who understands what you are going through, who will listen and share strength. You’ll see that other people like you have already experienced, written about and lived many of the same things that helped you get from here to there. You’ll learn that everybody’s story is your story and your story is everybody’s story to some extent. You’ll also see that what makes us different also unites us in our struggle to be free. If you’re not already a member, we invite you to join us and support us as we support you throughout your lifelong journey. Perhaps, somewhere along the way, you might decide to “just let the wind carry you along” every once in a while – to just “let go and enjoy the ride.” For me, where to go from here isn’t a place – it’s a journey. I believe that just putting one foot in front of the other is “the place.” And, at times, just letting the wind carry me along can be a lot of fun – if I can just remember to let go and enjoy the ride. ~ Kathy Spozio, late friend of the Coalition Editor’s Message LIVING FREE THERE ARE MANY PATHWAYS IN THE JOURNEY TO BE FREE ~ Bill Dupes, Editor-in-Chief