So this is why government housing is a bad idea, it's a monopoly owned and operated by souless bureaucrats.
A SQUADDIE who lost his legs in Afghanistan had to be carried up and down stairs by his mum and sister for five months because the council did not install a stair-lift.
Lee Midgley, 21, was then forced to move into the ground-floor flat of his girlfriend's mum when an op to repair blast wounds to his stomach made it unsafe to carry him.
Last night Lee - who was hailed a hero after saving a group of US troops - said: "From being a fit, healthy, strong lad, to having to be carried up and down stairs by my sister in front of my girlfriend and friends - it's humiliating."
On Friday, Leeds Council finally agreed to install the lift.
But last night Lee's mum, Sharon Brook, said: "I can't believe it has taken all this time."
A council spokesman said: "We are sorry there has been confusion about whether Mr Midgley could get a stair-lift installed."
Lee a sniper in the Coldstream Guards, was maimed when he stepped on an anti-tank mine just after Christmas.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
What century are we in? The 7th or 21st?
Taliban amputate thief’s hands
By Saboor Khan HANGU: Taliban on Tuesday amputated the hands of a man in Orakzai Agency in compliance with a punishment ordered by a “Taliban court” on charges of theft, locals said. Locals told Daily Times that the “court” in the Mamuzai area ordered the hands of Najibullah to be amputated. The punishment was carried out in the presence of several tribesmen.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C06%5C24%5Cstory_24-6-2009_pg7_5
Taliban amputate thief’s hands
By Saboor Khan HANGU: Taliban on Tuesday amputated the hands of a man in Orakzai Agency in compliance with a punishment ordered by a “Taliban court” on charges of theft, locals said. Locals told Daily Times that the “court” in the Mamuzai area ordered the hands of Najibullah to be amputated. The punishment was carried out in the presence of several tribesmen.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C06%5C24%5Cstory_24-6-2009_pg7_5
Monday, June 15, 2009
"Across the nation, about 200,000 people — about 16,000 of them children — are injured in lawn mower accidents each year, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports. Most injuries, such as severed fingers and toes, limb amputations, broken bones, burns and eye injuries, are caused by careless use..."
This is something I keep going on about, and for good reason. There is no reason that many kids should be hurt from lawnmowers!
http://timesfreepress.com/news/2009/jun/15/summer-ritual-can-turn-dangerous/?local
This is something I keep going on about, and for good reason. There is no reason that many kids should be hurt from lawnmowers!
http://timesfreepress.com/news/2009/jun/15/summer-ritual-can-turn-dangerous/?local
Friday, June 12, 2009
‘Bionic’ hand helps Newport amputee - Newport, AR - Newport Independent
I added this to Amputee News with the headline, “Amputee buckles belt with i-LIMB” and carried on. After thinking about it a couple of minutes it occurred to me that only an amputee would consider buckling a belt to be headline news.
‘Bionic’ hand helps Newport amputee - Newport, AR - Newport Independent
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Doing things not an issue for this special person - Pontiac, IL - Pontiac Daily Leader
This is a brave and determined girl, but reading the story I thought more of the parents. I know how much my wife and I worry about our two boys when they have a cold, what must it be like for parents when the doctors tell them their child needs to have a leg amputated, is missing an arm and on top of that will have continued physical problems her whole life? In the article they seem to be doing well, but how many times have they sat up after she’s gone to bed and worried how in the hell they’ll make it to the next day?
Doing things not an issue for this special person - Pontiac, IL - Pontiac Daily Leader
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Sask. soldier tells story of attack, recovery. Feature
The human mind is an amazing thing, “On fire and flying through the air, Master Cpl. Adam Cyr never thought he'd taste apple juice again.” The kicker is this quote from the soldier, ``I'm not even a big fan of apple juice,''. Weird. I added this story in the last update of Amputee News.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
I watched a movie last night that I thought would be a good one to review for the Amputee News blog. The movie is "What's bugging Seth?” (You can order it online from www.whatsbuggingseth.com), it's a story about Seth, a deaf man who is determined to start up a bug extermination business in Monterey, California.
In the movie he's up against an established business, his determination to go it alone, and some personal issues. One of these personal issues revolves around Nora, the girl he pined for in high school and Alma, a local girl, who in the movie, was born without legs below the knee.
I could give a review of the whole movie, there is plenty there to work with, but I’m going to focus this review on Alma, played by Amy Purdy, and the issues she raises as an amputee in the movie.
I’m going to give away some of the plot doing this, but the movie has been out since 2005, and I’m not revealing anything like who Luke Skywalker’s father is, (father and son amputees).
When we first meet Alma we aren’t shown or told she’s an amputee, she’s a local girl who knows Seth and they have a drink together at the local bar. She is clearly attracted to Seth, but in a way that seems a little uncomfortable and perhaps even a little desperate. During their drink Seth happens to look down and sees that she’s wearing a prosthetic leg, (straight pylon, no cosmetic covering). Alma is clearly uncomfortable at this unplanned revelation of hers and leaves the bar. Seth follows and consequently asks her out.
This episode hits an issue that for many amputees has become less and less of an issue, as many amputees don’t bother with cosmetic coverings. I call it the Bauhaus school of prosthetic limbs, if it’s an artificial limb, let it look like one. Alma’s character has been an amputee since birth, yet for some reason she has not quite come to terms with her prosthetic legs. I was confused about this as I watched the movie, but realized later what was going on.
Out on a date, Alma and Seth are talking about their respective disabilities when Alma mentions how people tell her she has no legs, to which she replies, “Oh, thanks for telling me that.” The reaction of other people has become internalized and part of Alma’s self perception, her disability has become to a great extent her self image. She even carries with her a photo torn from a catalog of the cosmetically attractive legs she plans to get. For her, that’s what she desperately wants to look like.
The date ends with Alma and Seth going to bed, and in a scene that was poignant and funny, I realized how very different being a male amputee is from a female amputee when faced with that first time being naked with a lover. (Pause while the men nod and women roll their eyes.) For a man, that moment is 1% concern over body image and 99%, well… you know. For women, well, watching Alma it’s clear the ratio is reversed.
Later in the movie Alma gets her cosmetic legs, painted toe nails and all. They are really nice legs and her character is clearly excited about surprising Seth with them. I think every amputee is excited to show of their new legs, cosmetic or otherwise. It’s better than getting a new car, and as expensive.
Near the end of the movie we finally see Alma’s motivations regarding her eagerness to jump into a relationship. Though some amputees watching the movie may have suspected them earlier. Seth was a ‘safe’ guy to go out with, he’s deaf, different, and an outsider as Alma sees herself to be. It’s as if she had decided that going out with a disabled guy would be better than a ‘normal’ guy. A disabled guy would have insight and understanding that other guys wouldn’t.
Towards the end of the movie, as she tells Seth all this, it’s too late, she’s realized that being disabled doesn’t make you a better person. All the dumb assumptions, emotional inabilities and pig headedness that are found in ‘normal’ people exist in those of us outside that category. In this regard, a disabled person is the same as a normal person.
Although I’ve focused on just Alma and her story line, the theme of disabled equaling normal in the realm of human interactions is found in the whole movie and finds voice in the character of Seth with much more force. It’s a theme that amputees, the deaf and ‘normal’ folks can hear.
I’m recommending this movie to amputees, and their non-amputee friends and family. And if you want more information on Amy Purdy visit, www.adaptiveactionsports.com.
In the movie he's up against an established business, his determination to go it alone, and some personal issues. One of these personal issues revolves around Nora, the girl he pined for in high school and Alma, a local girl, who in the movie, was born without legs below the knee.
I could give a review of the whole movie, there is plenty there to work with, but I’m going to focus this review on Alma, played by Amy Purdy, and the issues she raises as an amputee in the movie.
I’m going to give away some of the plot doing this, but the movie has been out since 2005, and I’m not revealing anything like who Luke Skywalker’s father is, (father and son amputees).
When we first meet Alma we aren’t shown or told she’s an amputee, she’s a local girl who knows Seth and they have a drink together at the local bar. She is clearly attracted to Seth, but in a way that seems a little uncomfortable and perhaps even a little desperate. During their drink Seth happens to look down and sees that she’s wearing a prosthetic leg, (straight pylon, no cosmetic covering). Alma is clearly uncomfortable at this unplanned revelation of hers and leaves the bar. Seth follows and consequently asks her out.
This episode hits an issue that for many amputees has become less and less of an issue, as many amputees don’t bother with cosmetic coverings. I call it the Bauhaus school of prosthetic limbs, if it’s an artificial limb, let it look like one. Alma’s character has been an amputee since birth, yet for some reason she has not quite come to terms with her prosthetic legs. I was confused about this as I watched the movie, but realized later what was going on.
Out on a date, Alma and Seth are talking about their respective disabilities when Alma mentions how people tell her she has no legs, to which she replies, “Oh, thanks for telling me that.” The reaction of other people has become internalized and part of Alma’s self perception, her disability has become to a great extent her self image. She even carries with her a photo torn from a catalog of the cosmetically attractive legs she plans to get. For her, that’s what she desperately wants to look like.
The date ends with Alma and Seth going to bed, and in a scene that was poignant and funny, I realized how very different being a male amputee is from a female amputee when faced with that first time being naked with a lover. (Pause while the men nod and women roll their eyes.) For a man, that moment is 1% concern over body image and 99%, well… you know. For women, well, watching Alma it’s clear the ratio is reversed.
Later in the movie Alma gets her cosmetic legs, painted toe nails and all. They are really nice legs and her character is clearly excited about surprising Seth with them. I think every amputee is excited to show of their new legs, cosmetic or otherwise. It’s better than getting a new car, and as expensive.
Near the end of the movie we finally see Alma’s motivations regarding her eagerness to jump into a relationship. Though some amputees watching the movie may have suspected them earlier. Seth was a ‘safe’ guy to go out with, he’s deaf, different, and an outsider as Alma sees herself to be. It’s as if she had decided that going out with a disabled guy would be better than a ‘normal’ guy. A disabled guy would have insight and understanding that other guys wouldn’t.
Towards the end of the movie, as she tells Seth all this, it’s too late, she’s realized that being disabled doesn’t make you a better person. All the dumb assumptions, emotional inabilities and pig headedness that are found in ‘normal’ people exist in those of us outside that category. In this regard, a disabled person is the same as a normal person.
Although I’ve focused on just Alma and her story line, the theme of disabled equaling normal in the realm of human interactions is found in the whole movie and finds voice in the character of Seth with much more force. It’s a theme that amputees, the deaf and ‘normal’ folks can hear.
I’m recommending this movie to amputees, and their non-amputee friends and family. And if you want more information on Amy Purdy visit, www.adaptiveactionsports.com.
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