The Given Limb Foundation recently provided a grant to a young man who lost an arm.  He had begun training with Team River Runner, an organization that helps wounded warriors regain their strength and confidence through whitewater boating and other paddling sports.  Carl was planning to join the group this summer on a canoe trip through the Grand Canyon, and needed to train for the trip.  GLF provided him with a TRS hammerhead device, which allows his prosthetic arm to connect easily to the oars so he can paddle the boat.

We are grateful to Team River Runner and to Dana Alexander for making us aware of this opportunity, and for all they do to help our wounded warriors!

An amputee himself, a GLF reader named Dan has developed a way to decorate prosthetic devices with custom designs or tattoos.  He has produced a variety of designs on prosthetics–American flags, Marine insignias, roses, etc.  If you visit his website, www.gtopi.com, you can see examples of his work and get information on how to contact him.

Several people have written to us offering gas pedal devices or left foot gas pedals for amputees or people who cannot use their right foot on the gas pedal.  If you know of someone who could use such a device, write to us and we will try to connect you with someone who would like to donate a device.

Given Limb was contacted by Taliesin Cochran, who has developed a guitar tuning method that would allow someone who has lost a limb or is missing fingers to be able to play the guitar effectively, and he wants to share this information with people who could benefit from it.   
 
Taliesin’s technique, which is described below, should be useful to someone with a basic understanding of music theory music theory and/or basic  familiarity with the guitar.

“Gmajor/Bminor tonic/dominant open tuning for amputees or anyone else by Taliesin Cochran.  Email tdcochran2@gmail.com if you have any questions.
The tuning is either from string 6-1 (6 is the lowest pitch string on the top, conventionally E2, and 1 is the highest pitch string on the bottom conventionally E4) G2,B2,D3,F#3,A3,C#4. This gives a pattern of alternating strings either three or four half steps apart.
Playing open strings 6,5,and 4 together gives you G major, and playing open strings 4,3,and 2 together gives you D major. This gives you the tonic, dominant, as well as the less useful mediant chord (iii) in G major without having to fret any string.  You can change the key by using a capo.  Alternatively if you play open strings 5,4, and 3 together you get B minor, and if you play 3,2, and 1 together you get F# minor. This gives you the tonic and dominant chord in B natural minor.  Again you can change the key by using a capo. This allows someone to play I-V progression in major and i-v progression in minor with only one functional hand.  It also allows someone missing all but one finger on the hand used to fret to be able to play scales using open strings, or someone with two functional fingers to play any scale on the guitar without the use of a capo.

Dropping the 1st string by half a step would also allow one to play the diminished vii chord, but it you would only be able to play in major.

Be careful while tuning the low pitch strings, this tuning puts a lot of stress on the 6th string, so alternatively you could use F#2,A#2,C#3,F3,G#3,C4 for the same effect one half step down, but this causes the 1st string to hang a little lose (this only matters if you plan to use the minor chords). If you are worried about the stress on the strings you can use a lighter gauge, they tend to be able to withstand the stress a little better.  If the highest pitch string is too lose replacing it with a higher gauge string might solve the problem.

Gminor/Bbminor tonic/dominant open tuning
Very similar to the one above with the intervals between strings reversed. This would allow you to play in G minor or Bb major. The tuning is G2,Bb2,D3,F3,A3,C4. Again this could be lowered a half step to reduce strain, and you could use a capo to change key.

Tuning this will be a little difficult one handed if you do not have a chromatic tuner (the iPhone has a chromatic tuner app), so you may need help getting the guitar set up. Using a conventional guitar tuner allows you to be able to tune the first example’s strings 6,5, and 4 easily, but depending on the tuner it may be difficult to tune the last three (I can do it on my analogue tuner after some practice finding out how the notes appear on it).
Please share this with anyone it might help.”

As a result of the tragic earthquake in Haiti, many people lost limbs, and there is a tremendous and immediate need for prosthetic limbs as well as prosthetists to fit limbs.  We have heard from several people asking about limb donations.  The St. Vincent’s School for children with disabilities is in need of child sized prosthetic limbs, and there are other orphanages caring for wounded children in the aftermath of the earthquake.  If you know of someone with the ability to help, or if you have contact with other groups in Haiti looking for prosthetics, please respond to this blog.  Perhaps we can facilitate the direction of funds or aid efforts in this cause.

Sean Cumings

The Given Limb Foundation is pleased to announce the Sean Michael Cumings Camp Scholarship.  The scholarship will enable two children to attend the Paddy Rossbach Youth Camp run by the Amputee Coalition of America during the summer of 2010.

Sean Cumings was an amazing young man from Westbrook, CT, who lost his life last year at the age of 24.  Sean lived his short life as a reflection of who he was: genuine, friendly, funny, and full of love. One warm handshake from Sean with his beautiful smile and you knew you met a new friend.  Sean was passionate about his workouts and his chiseled body was like a work of art.  Sean also loved to fish with his brother Alex and his Uncle Brian, do silly impressions and joke with his best friend Mat, laugh and love with his girlfriend Abbey, bug his Dad to use his car, hug and tease his Mom, and play with his do, Shay. His brother, Alex, will always look up to his big brother Sean. Sean was a student at Southern Connecticut State University completing his last year in sociology and criminal justice.  Sean also leaves behind a lifetime of friends too numerous to mention, because everyone Sean met became his friend.  Sean’s parents, Laura and Peter, noted Sean’s love of children in asking Given Limb to find a fitting tribute for donations made in Sean’s name.

Camper at ACA's Paddy Rossbach Camp for children with limb difference, photo courtesy of ACA

The Paddy Rossbach Youth Camp fit the goal perfectly in that it offers a traditional camp experience to children ages 10-17 who have lost arms or legs or were born with limb difference.  Since its beginning in 2000, the camp has hosted more than 450 campers from 42 states and three countries.  Attendance at the camp is made possible without cost to the campers and many of the counselors are former campers who volunteer their time.

We extend our thanks to Sean’s many family and friends for making these scholarships possible. Their loss will be transformed into lifetime gains for many children whose confidence and abilities will be expanded by the camp experience.

Anyone interested in making a donation to the fund may do so by clicking here to be directed to the “Donate” page, and by specifying that the contribution is for the Sean Cumings Memorial Scholarship.

Josh Wege, a Marine from Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, lost both feet to a roadside blast in Afghanistan in October.  He has spent the past month at Walter Reed Army Hospital being fitted for new prosthetic feet that will enable him to walk unaided.  Josh is already advancing to crutches this month and plans to walk through the door with no crutches at Christmas.  Josh’s recovery and determination are remarkable and we wish him all the best.

Forty-eight year old Greg Lewis, a lower left leg amputee from Chandler , Arizona, was diagnosed with cancer 30 years ago, and given a prosthetic.  He has walked since then with the same prosthetic device. He said he has no health insurance and didn’t have the money for a new prosthesis, which can cost $10,000 or more, Lewis said.  Friends, co-workers and Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics made a new prosthetic happen for Greg.  The Given Limb gets a number of requests from individuals with the need for first-time or replacement prosthetics.  Folks with good insurance have told me that they are entitled to several replacement prosthetics—some multiple prosthetics each year!  Seems a shame that we, as a country, cannot figure out how to get at least one new prosthetic to someone like Greg at least every ten years! In the mean time, anyone in Greg’s situation should feel free to call on the services of the Amputee Coalition of America.  They are very proactive in finding prosthetists and prosthetics for people who cannot afford them. (www.amputee-coalition.org)

Oscar Pistorious, a South African double amputee sprinter, was in the news recently. Researchers at Southern Methodist University recently discovered that his legs lower his time by 10 seconds from if he had normal legs. The study showed that because his prosthetics are lightweight, he is able to reposition them far faster than a regular sprinter. His blade legs also lower the amount of muscle force needed to run. He was originally banned to compete against able-bodied sprinters in January 2008 by the IAAF, but that was changed in May of 2008 and he is now allowed to compete against regular runners. He was allowed to compete in the 2008 Beijing Olympics but failed to qualify for the team. He now hopes to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics using his lightweight blade legs.

Six years ago at his home in war-torn Gaza, Sobhi, at the age of 9, was severely injured when a bomb landed on his family’s farm field where he was helping his parents work. Three days passed before Sobhi awoke to find himself in a hospital with only half a left leg. Weeks passed before he got out of bed and started a new life on crutches.

But in October, in a Federal Way clinic in the Seattle area, the Palestinian teen with a 100-watt smile stood on two feet again, thanks to a team of Seattle area residents who donated their time and money to bring him to Washington and get him a prosthetic leg.

How did it happen?  The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund knew that a group of people in Seatlle had helped raise funds following the attacks.  PCRF asked them to help with Sobhi.  In turn, help was provided by the Preferred Orthotics and Prosthetic Services in Federal Way founded by Fred Cato and Karl Entenmann, both graduates of the University of Washington’s Prosthetic program. Entenmann, a native of Seattle, said he and his team would make the socket to fit over Sobhi’s leg. He then called manufacturers to see if they could donate the other parts for free.

Now Sobhi is going to school in the Seattle area while he receives fittings and physical therapy….and says his prosthetic leg feels just like his real one did.  Kudos to the Seattle volunteers and professional prosthetists for making another “given limb” success story.