Veteran Amputees, Others Find Support in Malverne

I have driven, walked past and congregated in front of the office of the National Amputation Foundation in Malverne on 40 Church St. I have even peered through the window of the store front. (Many times the office has been dark as they are only open three days a week)

I knew that their work focused on serving the needs of our amputee veterans, so what were they going to do for my me? My mother-in-law is visiting us and she is trying to keep up with our hectic schedule. She has a couple of bad hips, walks with a cane and when she is in her hometown, she uses a walker with wheels and a seat for her to rest when she is tired.

The last time she was visiting we were able to borrow a wheelchair and it made it easier to get around when we were on extended walking ventures. So we were again looking for a wheelchair to keep in the car to have when needed.

I was talking with someone who mentioned the Amputation Foundation in Malverne.  I figured that I would call. I spoke to a very nice woman by the name of Laurie. I explained my story and asked if she was able to assist me with a wheelchair for my mom. She told me that this can be provided and she so graciously made an appointment (after hours) for me to come in and pick up a wheelchair.

When we met in the office, I told her that I appreciate what she was going to do for me but asked her to tell me more about the NAF. She proceeded to tell me NAF’s mission: To offer support, information and encouragement to those with major limb loss, and show by example, that there is indeed life after amputation.

She continued to tell me about the visits to Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital in Washington D.C., meeting and matching up new amputees with others who have gone through the same situation and share common similarities.

The NAF sponsors an Amp-to-Amp programs to match new amputees with others who have been through it, a scholarship program for those who want to go to college, Skiing and golf events teaching amputees to adapt to the sport, help finding organizations that offer financial aid, and support groups.

Then, she showed me pictures of sporting events and another group gathering. Laurie also displayed a great T-shirt that they give out to the veterans to show support. I of course will be getting one to showcase in the Joseph L. Landers Memorial Restoration and possibly some old photos of some of their group's events.

So as historian I asked her to gave me a brief history of the NAF. In 1919, a group of WWI veterans who suffered loss of limbs created the NAF. They had themselves and worked through the years to show other amputees that they can return to normal lifestyles.  The NAF has been offering assistance for veterans of WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. 

In addition to the war veterans with amputations, the NAF is seeing an increase in the amputee population due to accidents, diabetes, cancer and vascular conditions and they are there to meet their needs as well.

The NAF accepts medical equipment, yearly membership applications and of course donations all to assist the foundation's work. I recommend you take a look at their website (www.nationalamputation.org) and see all of the work they do. You can also contact them at AMPS76@aol.com to make donations of medical equipment or money. I hope you will support them as I will.

Thank you for listening – Mom appreciates it too!