Merriam-Webster defines inspiration as “the action or power of moving the intellect or emotions.”
Those with limb loss, and their families and friends have an ever-growing network of resources and support there to encourage and educate. We’ve listed some of them on our Resource page and from time to time we will highlight them as inspirations.
“Anything that will help amputees enjoy all that life has to offer”
In this last week of 2014, it’s time to reflect on all we did and all we have ahead of us. At Sunshine, we’ve knocked down walls and are expanding with some great new services to be revealed. We’ve added our new 3D Scanner – the latest hi-tech equipment to make scanning quicker and hassle-free for fitting prosthetic and orthotic devices. We’ve also been certified to custom fit the latest prosthetic limbs like the iWalk PowerFoot Bionic Ankle System and the Ottobock Michelangelo myoelectric prosthetic hand. It’s an exciting time in the development of new strengths and capabilities in artificial limbs! We’ve also added a brand new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section to our website and welcome any questions from our visitors.
Established in 2009, Athletes with Disabilities Network (ADN) was formed by combining Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame (est 1999) and Extremity Events Network (est 2007). ADN’s mission is to promote a better quality of life by creating opportunities for people with physical disabilities.
“There’s No Replacement for the Competitive Spirit”
The Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame has recognized nearly 100 individuals who share a passion for life and a dedication to inspire others through their words, actions and giving back to the community. The Hall of Fame represents a unique opportunity for athletes with disabilities to be enshrined for their athletic accomplishments, as well as community leaders for their work with persons with disabilities. Honorees are not only a “Who’s Who” in their sports, but are role models for the next generation of young people with disabilities, and their awe-inspiring stories bring much-needed awareness to the general public. In 2014, the top male and female Athlete of the Year awards went to:
Lex Gillette, the current world record holder in the long jump, a three-time Paralympic medalist, the reigning world champion in the long jump, a 15-time national champion and the only totally blind athlete in the world to eclipse the 22-foot barrier in the long jump.
“Noah Galloway: “Train like a machine”
On December 19, 2005, Noah lost his left arm above the elbow and left leg above the knee in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack in Iraq. He woke up Christmas Eve to find out he had lost two of his limbs and also sustained several injuries to his remaining leg and his jaw.
The depression that followed took him through pain killer addiction and then alcoholism and then he battled his way out and became the fiercely strong, competitive and supportive man who won the Men’s Health Magazine’s “2014 Ultimate Men’s Health Guy” and rocks the cover of the November issue.
“They ask why I push myself to the limit. I do it because I feel powerful, strong and tough. I feel at home when I’m challenged.”
Noah is determined to inspire others by his actions, by training like a machine and demonstrating that challenges are meant to be conquered no matter how big they might be.
Brooke Artesi, founder and owner of Sunshine Prosthetics and Orthotics is an avid outdoor sports enthusiast – hiking, rockwall climbing, kayaking, running – she lives her motto:
“Get moving and stay active!”
On Sunday, September 21st, Brooke will be hiking the 20-mile run/hike on the Shawangunk Ridge Trail. The SRT is a 74-mile hiking trail that crosses the entire length of the Shawangunk ridgeline, from High Point State Park in New Jersey, where the SRT intersects the Appalachian Trail, all the way to the town of Rosendale, New York, where the trail ends at a restored railroad trestle high above the Rondout Creek. Along the way, the SRT passes through rolling hills covered in hardwood forests, Southern New York’s largest wetlands, rare dwarf pine barrens, sky lakes, waterfalls, and the distinctive white quartzite conglomerate cliffs of the Shawangunk mountains, which were uplifted almost three hundred million years ago.