Click here for the original copy of the article – it’s on pages 50-51.
Meet Paul Deines, Member of LIM359-Denver!
Paul Deines has been an enthusiastic, 50-something member of LIM359 for the past year. He has been living with with limb loss since 2011 when, after stepping on a nail, infection swept through his foot. In just over a month, Paul lost first a toe, then his foot, and finally his leg due to the infection that ensued.
However, very little keeps Paul from creating, pursuing, and accomplishing his personal and professional goals. For example, he has made a career of expressing his creative side through his lifelong passion for photography. See bluedolphinfotography.smugmug.com/ for more thought-provoking samples.
Paul spends considerable time and effort in pursuit of his passion, sometimes traveling alone in the hunt for the perfect shot. Last fall, for example, when he shot scenic photos of aspens in their stunning gold colors. On a personal level, however, when he’s back in the big city, Paul greatly values LIM359 events, where he can put aside all else and just hang out with other members.
Bottom line? Paul enjoys attending LIM359 events for the chance it offers him to interact with other amputees in an unpretentious, straightforward setting. That said, he may well have found a good home for those traits, given the group’s open and unpretentious nature.
Interested in meeting Paul and/or other LIM359 members? The next LIM359 event is afternoon mini golf, April 25, 2015. Hope to see you there!
Are you interested in sharing a little about yourself with other LIM359 members? I can help! I am actively seeking LIM359 members who might wish to make some new acquaintances or even rekindle old ones. Just e-mail me your contact information at rmediting@gmail.com, and I’ll provide all the details.
Another Great Resource for Amputees
Check out Amplitude Media & their e-newsletter by clicking the picture below:
March 2015 Issue of the Amputee Coalition’s LimbLine
For more, click here
Whitney Harris Discusses LIM359’s Expansion into Tallahassee
Questions to Ask When Choosing a Prosthetist
These lists are not meant to be exhaustive, but a few of our members helped compile some ideas for questions you might want to keep in mind when choosing a Prosthetist. The first question is aimed at things you might ask the Prosthetist, and the second question is aimed at what you yourself should keep in mind during the interview. Please feel free to comment with additional suggestions.
What questions should you ask a Prosthetist during an interview?
(1) How many patients with a [insert your amputation level] amputation have you fit?
(2) Do you pay for referrals from a doctor?
(3) Are you certified? Through which organization?
(4) Where did you go to Prosthetic school?
(5) Why did you decide to become a Prosthetist?
(6) What do you do when you have a patient with a residual limb that’s extremely difficult to fit?
(7) How long have you been doing this?
(8) On average, how many patients do you work with per year?
(9) Would I be able to get a hold of you if something were to happen on the weekend?
(10) Can you tell me about some of the highlights of your career while working as a Prosthetist?
(11) What’s the average age of your patients?
(12) Do you have much experience working with patients who have other health issues going on in addition to their amputation(s)? Do you keep in contact with a patient’s team of doctors when this is the case? If not, are you willing to do so?
What questions should you ask yourself when choosing a Prosthetist?
(1) What is my gut feeling?
(2) Does s/he seem to respect me?
(3) Does s/he treat me like a child?
(4) Does s/he dismiss my concerns?
(5) Is the office warm and inviting? Could I stand to be here for long periods of time (we all know this is inevitable)?
(6) Do I get the feeling that s/he will be capable of putting my needs and wants before his/her own convenience?
(7) Does it seem like s/he understands and appreciates the goals I’ve set for myself? Do I believe s/he will help me achieve those goals?
(8) Do I trust this person to do what is right for me?
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