Who comes to these meetings?
On This Leg members are a diverse group of people. We have amputees of all kinds; people with a limb difference; individuals who are contemplating an amputation; members of an amputee's support system such as spouses and significant others, friends and family; people who work with, or on behalf of, amputees, including PTs, OTs, and prosthetists; and people who have a genuine interest in the lives of amputees.
We have individuals who lost a limb in childhood illnesses, 20-, 30-, 40- and 50-plus-year-olds who became amputees after motorcycle or auto accidents; men and women of various ages who lost a limb as a result of diabetes, peripheral artery disease, cancer or other illnesses; and some born with birth defects or limb-length discrepancies. We have members who are new amputees, long-time amputees, amputees going through second or third amputations or revisions, and those who will soon become an amputee. And there are people who are not amputees, but who form part of the support system for someone who is an amputee (even if the amputee is not in attendence.)
Some of us have lingering problems but most others have none. Professionals, blue collar workers, healthcare providers, clerks, supervisors, retirees and young adults come to On This Leg meetings. In many cases, our members participate in sports, church, clubs, and other social activities as they did before their amputations. In other words, On This Leg members reflect non-amputees in many ways. Each of us has something to offer the group, and much to gain from the group.
