Hardy Croom
Following the surgery to amputate my left leg, I found myself in totally uncharted waters. The need for the amputation had arisen unexpectedly and had to be addressed rapidly. This left little time beforehand for very little besides locating a good vascular surgeon and booking the surgery.
After my release from the hospital, I went directly to an excellent rehab facility; and the wonderful staff there was doing everything possible to help me. I was the only amputee in residence at the time, however; and there were questions about everyday living and coping that could only be answered by someone who had actually experienced and come through the situation his or herself.
This fact was emphasized when my wife and I drove over to Miami for the first follow-up visit with my surgeon, two weeks after the surgery had been performed. It was a long morning; and on the return trip, we decided to take a break and stop for lunch. Before the meal was even served, I began experiencing severe pain. Making this stop had definitely been a poor decision. Later, we went to a rest stop, and realized for the first time just how inassessable some of these facilities actually are for those using wheelchairs or walkers. It was quite an eye-opener.
I returned to Naples feeling isolated and somewhat hopeless. The trip had left no doubt regarding just how much my life had changed. My wife was disheartened by the trip as well and concerned about my mental outlook. I am normally an easy-going, positive person; and the change was very evident.
When she returned home, she began making calls. First, she contacted the people at In Motion, the publication of Amputees Coalition of America and told them she was looking for a support group here in Naples. The person she spoke with said they had no information about a group here. In fact the closest one she was familiar with at the time was located in Port Charlotte, and she provided a contact number for the president of the group there. The person at ACA went on to offer to find a peer counselor for me; however, the closest one she had was located in Tampa.
My wife's next call was to Susan Moore, the president of the support group in Port Charlotte. Susan spent quite a while talking with my her, providing reassurance, giving her helpful suggestions and information and inviting the two of us up to attend their south of Port Charlotte. Later during the conversation, however, she remembered that she had received an e-mail from someone in Naples several months earlier, who was in the process of establishing a group. She promised to look for the e-mail and call back with the address, if she found it.
Within a day, my wife received a call from Bob Ayres at Miracle Limbs. Susan had been in touch with him, and he immediately followed-up with a call to my wife. Their conversation spanned more than an hour, during which he listened to her concerns regarding my condition and her frustrations at not being find answers to our many questions. Before the conversation ended, Bob promised to contact me the next day. True to his word, he did.
In fact, Bob did a whole lot more than just call me. He came to see me at my rehab center bringing with him not only hope and reassurance but books and pamphlets as well. These provided information that filled-in many of the gaps in my knowledge regarding what I was now experiencing and could expect in the future.
The days following the amputation of one's limb are indeed difficult ones. Having Bob so willingly provide the support he gave and continues to give has made the journey far less difficult for me. His enthusiasm for life, upbeat personality and dedication to helping fellow amputees through his foundation, Miracle Limbs-Courage in Motion, all serve as an inspiration to me. He is a wonderful resource and example, and I will always be thankful that God brought him into my life.
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