Bilateral AK Amputee Bootcamp
Donation protected
Hanger Clinic hosts a bootcamp for bilateral above-knee amputees every year to build frienships, growth, and confidence. Dozens of amputees gather in Oklahoma City near the main Hanger Clinic location, and every year, the guest list grows.
During "Bilateral AK Bootcamp," the amputees exchange tips with one another, meet challenges such walking up stairs or ramps on prosthetics, and set goals to reach by the next year. The powerful thing about this camp is that it unites individuals from all sorts of backgrounds that all face the unique challenge of living without legs. Hanger has helped hundreds of amputees learn how to use prosthetics. This bootcamp is specifically for patients with the most severe amputations.
In 2014, the bootcamp consisted of inspiring men, women, and children of all ages. There was a young boy who was a quadruple amputee. He was surrounded by people older than him, who learned from both his determination and progress. There were individuals recovering from accidents, that never expected their life to take such a tramatic turn. There were heroic military men who were rebuilding their futures as amputees.
No matter what the story was, there was empowerment after each person's week at Bilateral Bootcamp.
Each of these brave patients are coming from different places, and are therefore on different levels. This bootcamp reaches every level, and every age. Some amputees learned how to get up on a chair from the ground without anything but their own strength. Others learned how to walk on "stubbies," or short legs, which got them out of their wheelchair. Still other patients advanced their levels by mastering things such as stairs, exercising, and even swimming in their C-legs or X3's. Bilateral Bootcamp also involves health tips, and even aids in slowly getting patients off medications that wear the body down. Caregivers, spouses, and children of amputees also get to be part of the adventure. They feel understood, and also get a life-changing opportunity to improve their own situations.
Unfortunately, although this bootcamp is looked forward to all year by so many, it is up to each guest to pay their own way. I am the wife of a USMC triple amputee, and last year, Bilateral Bootcamp changed our lives for the better. We are blessed to have our trip covered by a military nonprofit group, but we want to help make sure others are able to enjoy their trip without suffering financial consequences. There are amputees and their families from all over the world, and from all economic backgrounds who take part in Bootcamp, but have to spend all year saving to come back. Our goal is to help these hard-working individuals join in on this empowering camp, without the additional stress of worrying about finances. We hope you find it in your heart to donate and help cover some of the hotel expenses for families involved in the Hanger Clinic AK Bilateral Bootcamp. Your genereous donation will help these powerful journeys excell, step by step.
During "Bilateral AK Bootcamp," the amputees exchange tips with one another, meet challenges such walking up stairs or ramps on prosthetics, and set goals to reach by the next year. The powerful thing about this camp is that it unites individuals from all sorts of backgrounds that all face the unique challenge of living without legs. Hanger has helped hundreds of amputees learn how to use prosthetics. This bootcamp is specifically for patients with the most severe amputations.
In 2014, the bootcamp consisted of inspiring men, women, and children of all ages. There was a young boy who was a quadruple amputee. He was surrounded by people older than him, who learned from both his determination and progress. There were individuals recovering from accidents, that never expected their life to take such a tramatic turn. There were heroic military men who were rebuilding their futures as amputees.
No matter what the story was, there was empowerment after each person's week at Bilateral Bootcamp.
Each of these brave patients are coming from different places, and are therefore on different levels. This bootcamp reaches every level, and every age. Some amputees learned how to get up on a chair from the ground without anything but their own strength. Others learned how to walk on "stubbies," or short legs, which got them out of their wheelchair. Still other patients advanced their levels by mastering things such as stairs, exercising, and even swimming in their C-legs or X3's. Bilateral Bootcamp also involves health tips, and even aids in slowly getting patients off medications that wear the body down. Caregivers, spouses, and children of amputees also get to be part of the adventure. They feel understood, and also get a life-changing opportunity to improve their own situations.
Unfortunately, although this bootcamp is looked forward to all year by so many, it is up to each guest to pay their own way. I am the wife of a USMC triple amputee, and last year, Bilateral Bootcamp changed our lives for the better. We are blessed to have our trip covered by a military nonprofit group, but we want to help make sure others are able to enjoy their trip without suffering financial consequences. There are amputees and their families from all over the world, and from all economic backgrounds who take part in Bootcamp, but have to spend all year saving to come back. Our goal is to help these hard-working individuals join in on this empowering camp, without the additional stress of worrying about finances. We hope you find it in your heart to donate and help cover some of the hotel expenses for families involved in the Hanger Clinic AK Bilateral Bootcamp. Your genereous donation will help these powerful journeys excell, step by step.
Organizer
Rachel Hallett
Organizer
Fort Collins, CO