To empower, educate and connect those living without both arms or more |
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Meet Mike St. Onge
in our January Spotlight
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Faces of ESFL
This month, we are spotlighting Mike St. Onge.
Mike is a quadruple amputee since January 2000 from pneumococcal pneumonia which led to Sepsis.
“Ever since I attended my first SFL in 2008, I was blown away by all the attendees and the different solutions to common problems. On the second day of the conference, I started volunteering to help staff. By the third day I was sharing with the group my unique experiences and possible problem-solving ideas. In just 3 short days my life was so dramatically changed for the better...I just couldn't get enough. Because of my first attendance at SFL it put my life on a more independent course that created lifelong opportunities that reverberate today.
Continue reading.
*Each month, we will highlight people in our community. Email and tell us whose story we should share!
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Message from the Executive Director | |
Hanger Foundation Empowerment Grant Award
We are excited to announce that we received an Empowerment Grant Award from Hanger Foundation. It demonstrates their belief in the value of our work, and the award allows us to reach more people by completing and sharing the adaptive equipment catalog that will be available later this year.
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Please Welcome Kelsey...
Kelsey Rohren is a military spouse and mom of 3. She and her family are stationed in Fort Cavazos and have made Texas home for the last 5 years. She has a background in early childhood education and family studies. She is a licensed elementary teacher in the state of Texas and has most recently taught kindergarten and first grade.
In January of 2023, Kelsey found out that her daughter’s arms had not developed in utero. She found community, support, and knowledge in Enhancing Skills for Life through social media and ‘real life’ connections and introductions from ESFL. Her family welcomed their daughter in May of 2023 and since then she has felt called to be involved and support this community.
Her passion is to make connections with others, give support, and help others feel empowered during an uncertain time. Her hobbies include spending time with her family outdoors, reading, baking, and traveling.
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Support our Work
Please comment on and share ESFL posts and news on social media to spread the word. Then, forward our newsletters to colleagues, friends, family members, and anyone in the limb loss/limb different community who might benefit from knowing about us.
Do you know any corporations, businesses, organizations who are looking to support a worthy cause? We would love to share what kind of an impact we could make with their support.
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Before, I sign off, we hope to have an announcement about Skills for Life 7 next month. Please keep reading below for important information and updates. If you have information to include in February's newsletter please reach out, we would love to hear from you!
Warm regards,
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Latest News, Tips & Resources |
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Ronnie Hindsman's 5th Annual Bowling Tournament | |
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Ronnie Hindsman's 6th Annual Bowling Tournament!
We are excited to watch this event grow every year and we would love to have you come join Ronnie for his SIXTH annual bowling tournament taking place February 17-18, 2024 in Livingston, TX! Volunteer opportunities will be made available closer to the event. Contact us with any questions.
Have you ever wanted to attend one of Ronnie's bowling tournaments? If so, come join us next month in Livingston, TX for a fun weekend of bowling and socializing, no bowling experience needed, just come prepared to have a good time and meet other people. Consider donating an item for the silent auction and/or raffle. We are looking forward to seeing old friends and hoping to meet some new ones too! Hotel information has been updated on Ronnie's website.
Scholarships!
We offer financial assistance to attend Ronnie's bowling tournament? Visit our website to fill out your application today! It is easy and if you have any trouble, filling it out we are happy to help get it completed.
Bowling Shift Start Times:
Saturday, 10am and 2pm
Sunday, 11am
See Ronnie's website for more information including registration, rules and how to donate items for the raffle.
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So Everybody Can Move
Make sure to check out Amplitude Magazine's January/February 2024 issue to learn about what different states are up to in regard to prosthetic insurance reform.
Become an advocate for a more equitable world, where Every BODY has access to life-changing prosthetic and orthotic care necessary for physical activity. Stay informed on exciting updates and help empower our state-by-state legislative efforts!
Website
Legislative Tracker
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Did You Know?
We offer peer support/connections in various forms. It might be an introduction by email ot text, a connection with an individual or group via zoom, or it could be an email with links to helpful resources. Maybe you are new to this community and don't know where to start? Maybe you have been around awhile, but would like to more independent with certain self-care tasks like dressing, bathing, toileting or eating. Or maybe you want to connect with other parents of limb different children?
You can contact us and we will get you connected with in one or more people who are willing to help.
As a reminder, our Skills for Life Private Facebook Group is also another great online support resource. Please answer the membership questions so we can properly vet new requests.
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Photography Book Project about Amputations
Photographer, Karen Jackson reached out to ESFL via Bambi Lombardi, OTR. Karen is looking for 15 more models for her book project so she asked if we would be willing to share her project with our community.
Please click here to read more about how this project started more.
From Karen...
"Our staged compositions are developed from conversations with our models concerning a range of topics: loss, self-worth, addiction, injury, illness, and depression. This artwork aims to empower our models to experience life without limitations. Whether this be a model being photographed for the first time after a limb loss or an amputee wanting to show a positive body image, these people have stories relatable to someone. Real-world locations and props create the backdrop to produce images that are surreal with a quiet or frenzied result. The resulting photographs, we hope, will create a dialogue between observers with a variety of different interpretations. Our hope with this book is to not just showcase our photography and these amazing individuals but to also educate people about what it's like to have an amputation, live/care for an amputee or wanting to donate/volunteer with the amputee community."
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January Zoom
We are looking forward to our January zoom "Amputee Fitness Mindset & How to Overcome Challenges" with special guest Victoria (Torie) Mugo. Please make plans to join us on Wednesday, January 17th at 7:00pm central. These zooms are open to anyone and are promoted publicly on our social media. Victoria will cover:
· The importance of staying fit as an amputee
· Fitness helpers and exercise modification
· Simple healthy habits for an amputee lifestyle
BOOKMARK ZOOM LINK: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/97649737361?pwd=Q1pqMmEwa1pIOUtXVWkxbkh6UnZnQT09
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Upcoming Events & Programs |
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Ronnie Hindsman's 6th Annual Bowling Tournament
Website
Livingston, TX
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American Academy of Orthotists & Prosthetists (AAOP)
Website
Chicago, IL
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Association of Children's Prosthetic-Orthotic Clinics (ACPOC)
Website
Denver, CO
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Amputee Coalition National Conference
Website
Atlanta, GA
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Andy Mattox's 2nd Annual Rock & Bowl Fundraiser
Website
Medina, OH
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Get Involved!
Thank you to those who contacted us over the past few months! We are still looking for help, so let us know if you have time, experience, resources, or referrals/connections with any of the below.
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Change a Life, Donate Today
The Skills for Life workshop was developed in 2002 with a specific focus on people living without both arms or more and the unique set of circumstances they face on a daily basis. The nonprofit was founded in 2017 to ensure we could continue supporting the members of our community with programs, events, resources, and connections. Please click the Venmo or PayPal donate buttons in this section to donate. PayPal allows you to donate via your account or with a credit card. Venmo requires you to have an account. Donations can also be made via check, payable to Enhancing Skills for Life, 16111 Park Center Dr, Houston, TX 77059.
Any and all donations, large or small, are greatly appreciated!
Enhancing Skills for Life, 501c3 Tax ID: 81-2619137.
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