Shore Prosthetics and Orthotics in Tutu Park Mall hosted a support group for amputees Wednesday, hoping to connect individuals experiencing daily life with amputations and professionals who can lend support.
The intimate group event, open to those directly affected by limb loss, their families, friends, and health care professionals, provided an open space for individuals to share their experiences.
Chris Borgesen, vice president of operations at Shore Prosthetics, said the event was hosted to “get people to meet each other and learn to cope with limb loss.”
“In the Virgin Islands, sometimes it can be challenging,” Borgesen said, and added challenges can include “how the house is set up and how to do modifications.”
Lori Thompson, a psychologist at Insight Psychological Services, said her work includes talking to people after they have had an amputation. She addresses “the grieving process” and how one can cope with trying to navigate life after limb loss.
Thompson was accompanied by mental health professionals Simona Thomas and Michele Matti. She asked the group about things they have done to navigate daily life.
One attendee, Jeanette Henry, shared her experience on having her leg amputated.
“I heal fast because I think positive[ly] that I want to heal,” said Henry. “I don’t give up … I never feel sorry for myself … I just continue being positive.”
“We need to have people who have successfully navigated the process,” said Thompson, after hearing Henry’s remarks. Thompson shared that sometimes individuals struggle to learn how to adjust to an amputation.
Windgrove Smithen, another attendee, shared that he lost his leg in 2021.
“‘Don’t worry about being an amputee, we’re going to get you walking,” Smithen recalled the team at Shore Prosthetics telling him. “And I appreciate that so much,” he added. “I’m grateful for you all.”
Even Theodore Nisbitt, an attendee who lost his limb doing forklift work at his job, was positive about his recovery and current lifestyle, sharing some of his experience with the group.
“When it happen[ed], it was a shock of course,” said Nisbitt, who added his daughter was “right around the corner” to be born. He shared that he did not remember feeling any pain when the accident occurred but, after surgery, that’s when the pain kicked in. “Therapy and stuff, I don’t think it’s easy for anybody. It’s just how you as a person take it. It’s not the end. I still have my health, I’m still alive,” said Nisbitt.
“You guys are tenacious,” said Thompson, after hearing the optimism from the group.
Smithen replied, “That happens when you’re not ashamed of the situation.”
Though all attendees spoke on the challenges of having amputations, most shared an extremely positive outlook on life after being amputated. However, some attendees shared their struggles, especially with being caretakers.
One attendee shared that she has a brother who had one of his legs amputated and spoke about the struggles of having to assist him, with one of her biggest challenges being the commute to him on St. John.
“Because he lives on St. John, I live here, throughout the time he was in and out of the hospital I was his constant support,” she said. She added, “It was kind of hard and kind of difficult for me. You just thought this would have been a quick process,” she said of the amputation, “and then here it is, I’m still here working with him.”
Thompson told the group that seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist helps individuals cope with adjustments to life after limb loss, signaling that the grieving process of losing a limb or being a caregiver can be daunting.
“Think on when you were a kid and you were on a bike or a skateboard and you fell down and you got cut,” said Thompson. “If you just put a bandage on top of it and pretend it doesn’t exist, what’s going to happen?” she asked. “It gets infected.”
Henry, who also shared her experience being a caregiver as well, referred to Psalms 121 as being “a helping psalms” for her while she recovered. She even recalled her doctor telling her, “I’ve never seen this before, you’re healing so fast,” the day after she lost her leg to diabetes. To her, the word diabetes means to “die-or-beat-it!”
Before the meeting ended, with some tears being shed, Borgesen said he sees patients who are either driven to live life and get back to normalcy after their amputations or those who stay complacent with their condition. He said the support group at Shore Prosthetics is meant to be a place where those who are managing well can inspire those who are having some difficulties managing.
For more information on Shore Prosthetics and Orthotics, go to www.shoreprosthetics.com or call 340-714-1009.
St. Croix Source
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