Life Unlimited
An irreverent support group goes bowling and offers advice, hope, and humor to amputees
By Laurie Udesky and David Dudley
CONSUMER HEALTH INTERACTIVE
Each year approximately 185,000 people in the United States undergo amputation because of disease or injury. Between 2001 and the end of 2007, an additional 1000 service men and women have lost limbs in training or in combat in Afghanistan, Iraq, or other areas of conflict. Many amputees find help and encouragement from loved ones and from support groups, including one with a refreshingly irreverent approach to helping its members. Begun in 1988 by founder and so-called "Chief Stump" Dan Sorkin, the group's main requirement for membership is a sense of humor. Meet Stumps R Us. . Click here or on the picture to start. Multimedia Team
Director and producer: Laurie Udesky
Video production: David Dudley, Laurie Udesky
Additional camera work: Paige Bierma
Senior editor and production supervisor: Paige Bierma
Flash production: David Dudley and Eric Turner
Flash animation: David Dudley
Executive producer: Diana Hembree
Photo credits: Bert Dorman, David Dudley, Laurie Udesky, Stumps R Us
Additional video footage: "Survivor" footage, courtesy of CBS; promotional speaking video, courtesy of Michael John Productions
Web production: Deepi Brar Troubleshooting
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Further Resources Stumps R Us http://www.stumps.org References
Interview with Dan Sorkin, founder and CEO of the amputee support group Stumps R Us, computer science teacher, certified flight instructor and pilot, and former radio talk show host.
Interview with Wayne Koniuk, certified prosthetist, Prosthetic/Orthotic Service, Inc, San Francisco, California, official prosthetist of the amputee support group Stumps R Us
Interview with Thai Nguyen, client of Wayne Koniuk, world traveler.
Interview with Chad Crittenden, member of Stumps R Us, speaker and former contestant on CBS reality show Survivor.
Interview with Alan Fisk, career counselor, San Francisco State University and athletic director of Stumps R Us
Interview with Bert Dormann, member of Stumps R Us, sales, photographer
Interview with Carol McLaughlin, client of Wayne Koniuk
"Amputation Statistics by Cause: Limb Loss in the United States, National Limb Loss Information Center, Amputee Coalition of America, last updated 2006 www.amputee-coalition.org
Hannah Fischer, Information Research Specialist, Knowledge Services Group, United States Military Casualty Statistics: Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom, last updated August 17,2007 http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RS22452
National Limb Loss Information Center "Limb Loss in the United States"
Reviewed by Michael Potter, MD, an attending physician and associate clinical professor at the University of California, San Francisco, who is board certified in family practice.
Our reviewers are members of Consumer Health Interactive's medical advisory board.
To learn more about our writers and editors, click here.
First published December 13, 2007
Copyright © 2007 Consumer Health Interactive
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