There are so many nonprofits doing good work on behalf of amputees that it seems impossible to keep track of them all. But we’re going to try anyway. Every week we’ll highlight one organization or person that’s out there trying to make life better for amputees. This week’s Worthy Cause: Less Leg More Heart.
Name: Less Leg More Heart
Founder: Tina Hurley, a certified physician’s assistant and an LBKA since 2016. Despite more than a dozen surgeries related to her amputation, Hurley competes in adaptive CrossFit and has participated in bobsledding with the U.S. Paralympic team. She writes: “My story is one of adaptation, enhancement, and the pursuit of inner happiness. It is a story about the realization that life is not about finishing with 10 fingers or 10 toes; it is about developing inner constancy, building virtue in yourself, and being of service to the world.”
Mission: To spread hope, decrease suffering, and enhance physical and mental health during life-changing medical circumstances.
Who they serve: Newly disabled people, including recent amputees.
What they do: Provide education, medical advocacy, peer mentoring, and funding for a range of support services, particularly in-home assistance during the transition to independence as a disabled person.
Special touch: LLMH’s care packages for new amputees include health products, liner cleaning kits, t-shirts, informational guides, and plain old TLC. “I appreciate your kind words and encouragement that you wrote to me,” says one recent recipient. “The muscle and joint cream will definitely come in handy. The soap will be a nice relaxing touch to a long day. The message on the bracelet couldn’t be any more truthful and a reminder that we all need sometimes: ‘Don’t Just Survive. Thrive!'”
Signature saying: “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.
Get involved: Less Leg More Heart is actively seeking volunteers to assist with advocacy and care coordination, ideally nurses, clinicians, social workers, and case managers. They’re also looking for more people to assist with the care packages initiative. Here’s how to get in touch.
Make a donation: At https://lesslegmoreheart.com/donations/donate/.
Find them on: Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube