Message from ESFL Executive Director

Hello Everyone!

Whew... where do we even begin?! The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of excitement here at ESFL, and we have LOTS to celebrate!

We’ve welcomed THREE new team members, celebrated the arrival of a beautiful new baby, cheered on a State Teacher of the Year, launched a new way to have our Hands-Free Adaptive Equipment Catalog shipped, released a new podcast episode, begun plans for a Skills for Life Workshop in the United Kingdom... AND reached our incredible goal of 1,000,000 United Airline miles!

And speaking of exciting additions, our very own Kelsey Rohren welcomed sweet Rosalie “Rosie” Rohren on August 4th! The Rohren family is over the moon and soaking up every moment with their precious new addition.

It’s safe to say things have been busy in the very best way! Grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and catch up on all the exciting things happening in the ESFL community!

Warm Regards,

Skills for Life United Kingdom

May 2027

Following their return home from SFL 7, Amy and Emily Hedges, Co-Directors of Therapy Focus CIC, began collaborating with the Enhancing Skills for Life team to bring Skills for Life resources and support to the United Kingdom.

The response from the bilateral upper and quad limb difference community has been overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing a need that has existed for many years. After months of stakeholder engagement, sponsorship applications, and grant requests, we are thrilled to announce that the first-ever Skills for Life UK Workshop will take place in the Lake District of The United Kingdom in May 2027!

United Airlines MileagePlus Miles on a Mission

We accomplished so much with your support!

We wrapped up our round-up of airlines miles for our United Airlines MileagePlus® Miles on a Mission campaign! We raised a little over 514,000 miles!! United Airlines matched what we raised so we exceeded our goal of 1,000,000 miles!

We will be able to support approximately 30 people to travel to our ESFL events! This campaign supported our mission to ensure no one ever feels alone in their journey without both hands or more. Many thanks to those of you that donated and shared!

If you haven’t already met Lisa Scott, let us introduce this amazing person to you.

Lisa is a wife, a mother of two boys, and a full-time 8^th grade science teacher. The day after Christmas in 2022 she woke up with a kidney stone. After a trip to the hospital, she was sent home to let it pass, but within 24 hours, she lost consciousness and went into septic shock. Her husband was told her chances of survival at that point were slim to none. With medical intervention and vasopressors, which constrict the blood vessels in the extremities to force blood to the organs, caused the tissue in her hands and feet to die. In May of 2023, once Lisa was medically stable, she underwent amputations and became a quadruple amputee.

The 22-year educator took a year-and-a-half break from teaching, where she had to relearn how to “function as a human being,” she said. There was a time when her biggest goal was simply learning to walk again. Becoming a quad amputee changed every part of her life. She had to” relearn how to do things I once took for granted, find strength I didn’t know I had, and redefine what was possible”.

As an eighth-grade science and social studies teacher Lisa has adapted. She went from learning to walk again to teaching back in the classroom. When Lisa needs to write something in front of her class, she doesn't type into a laptop that projects on a whiteboard. She taps an Apple Pencil, secured to her wrist with a Velcro cuff, on a touch-screen, and her handwriting appears instantly on the TV behind her.

Lisa’s journey, of resilience and triumph, only added to the many things that has earned Lisa the Arizona Teacher of the Year 2027 award. Lisa shared “My recovery showed me the very best in humanity, and I hope to pass those lessons to my students. Because we aren’t just teachers of content; we are teachers of humanity. I hope that this journey serves a reminder that we are not what happens to us, but what we make of it. And while life may change our path, it doesn’t have to change our purpose. This honor belongs to everyone who lifted me up, when I literally couldn’t stand on my own.”

We are very lucky to have such an inspirational person in our community.

Camp NO LIMITS

Camps for children with limb loss/limb difference and their family members. 12 camps hosted in various locations throughout the US.

Website

Various

AOPA National Assembly

Education, Networking and an Exhiibit Hall for clinicians, business leaders and researchers.

Website

Las Vegas, NV

Andy Mattox's 4th Rock and Bowl

Fundraiser

See website for scholarship application and details about the weekend.

Website

Medina, OH

Medical & Health Symposium

Join thousands of medical and legal professionals virtually from across Ohio and beyond for three days of learning, collaboration, and innovation. Together, we'll shape the future of occupational health, workers' compensation, and workplace injury prevention.

Website

Virtual (FREE)

Hanger Empowerfest

For people with limb loss or limb difference, a place to discover teh power of shared experiences. Empowerfest provides opportunities to learn from healthcare professionals and peers.

Website

San Jose, CA

Get Involved!

If you have ever considered getting involved with Enhancing Skills for Life, we would love to hear from you! If you have the time, interest or passion to support ESFL's mission, email us, let's talk! We have both paid positions and volunteer opportunities. We need help in the following areas:

• Fundraising/Development
• Board of Directors