#left above knee amputee

[amputeewomen]

Can you touch it gently?

Ruby sat close to her boyfriend, the soft light of the room casting a warm glow over them. There was a palpable air of nervous excitement between them, a moment they had both anticipated yet felt unprepared for.

"I've been thinking about this a lot," Ruby began, her voice a mix of eagerness and hesitation. She looked into his eyes, searching for understanding. "I'm excited, truly, but there's also a part of me that's... unsure."

Her boyfriend nodded, his expression one of complete attentiveness and care. He reached out, gently taking her hand, encouraging her to continue.

"It's just that everything has changed so much since the accident," she continued, her eyes briefly flitting away before returning to his. "I'm still me, but I feel different. And I don't know how you..."

She paused, gathering her courage. "Would you want to... I mean, would it be okay if you touched my leg stump? Through the stockings, I think it might feel... less strange."

Her question hung in the air, a delicate invitation filled with vulnerability. She watched his reaction closely, her heart thudding in her chest.

He smiled softly, his eyes warm with affection. "Ruby," he said tenderly, "I want you to feel comfortable and loved. If this is what you need, if this makes you feel more connected, then yes, I would love to. You're beautiful to me, every part of you."

The tension in Ruby's shoulders eased as she heard his words. A wave of relief and gratitude washed over her, mingling with the excitement that had been there all along. She leaned in closer, feeling the strength of their bond in that simple, understanding exchange.

As they moved into a more intimate space, there was a new layer to their connection, one that acknowledged Ruby's vulnerability and celebrated their mutual trust and desire.

#amputee #amputeegirl #lak #sak #left above knee amputee #leg amputee #onelegged #one legged #one leg #amputiert #amputation #stump #stumps #amputada #amputierte frau #amputee woman #amputeewoman #amputee girl #amputeebeauty #amputee beauty

[cy-cyborg]

Writing and drawing amputee characters: Not every amputee wears prosthetics (and that's ok)

Not every amputee wears prosthetics, and not doing so is not a sign that they've "given up".

It's a bit of a trope that I've noticed that when an amputee, leg amputees in particular, don't wear prosthetics in media its often used as a sign that they've given up hope/stopped trying/ are depressed etc. If/when they start feeling better, they'll start wearing their prosthetics again, usually accompanied by triumphant or inspiring music (if it's a movie). The most famous example of this is in Forest Gump, Where Dan spends most of the movie after loosing his legs wishing he'd died instead. He does eventually come around, and him finally moving from his wheelchair to prosthetics is meant to highlight this.

The thing is, it's not that it's unrealistic - in fact my last major mental health spiral was started because one of my prosthetics was being a shit and wouldn't go on properly, despite fitting perfectly at the prosthetist's the day before. I'm not going to use my legs when I'm not in a good headspace, but the problem is, this is the only time non-prosthetic using amputees ever get representation: to show how sad they are. Even if that's not what the creator/writer necessarily intended, audiences will often make that assumption on their own unless you're very careful and intentional about how you frame it, because it's what existing media has taught them to expect.

But there are lots of reasons why someone might not use prosthetics:

they might not need them: this is more common in arm amputees because of how difficult it can be to use arm prosthetic, especially above-elbow prosthetics. Most folks learn how to get on without them pretty well. In fact, most of the arm amputees I know don't have prosthetics, or only have them for specific tasks (e.g. I knew a girl who had a prosthetic hand made specifically for rowing, but that's all she used it for).

Other mobility aids just work better for them: for me, I'm faster, more manoeuvrable and can be out for longer when I'm in my wheelchair than I ever could on my prosthetics. Youtube/tik tok creator Josh Sundquist has said the same thing about his crutches, he just feels better using them than his prosthetic. This isn't the case for everyone of course, but it is for some of us. Especially people with above-knee prosthetics, in my experience.

Other disabilities make them harder to use: Some people are unable to use prosthetics due to other disabilities, or even other amputations. Yeah, as it turns out, a lot of prosthetics are only really designed for single-limb amputees. While they're usable for multi-limb amps, they're much harder to use or they might not be able to access every feature. For example, the prosthetic knee I have has the ability to monitor the walk cycle of the other leg and match it as close as possible - but that only works if you have a full leg on the other side. Likewise, my nan didn't like using her prosthetic, as she had limited movement in her shoulders that meant she physically couldn't move her arms in the right way to get her leg on without help.

Prosthetics are expensive in some parts of the world: not everyone can afford a prosthetic. My left prosthetic costs around $5,000 Australian dollars, but my right one (the above knee) cost $125,000AUD. It's the most expensive thing I own that I only got because my country pays for medical equipment for disabled folks. Some places subsidise the cost, but paying 10% of $125,000 is still $12,500. Then in some places, if you don't have insurance, you have to pay for that all by yourself. Even with insurance you still have to pay some of it depending on your cover. Arm prosthetics are even more expensive. Sure, both arms and legs do have cheaper options available, but they're often extremely difficult to use. You get what you pay for.

they aren't suitable for every type of environment: Prosthetics can be finicky and modern ones can be kind of sensitive to the elements. My home town was in a coastal lowland - this means lots of beaches and lots of swamp filled with salty/brackish water. The metals used in prosthetics don't hold up well in those conditions, and so they would rust quicker, I needed to clean them more, I needed to empty sand out of my foot ALL THE TIME (there always seemed to be more. It was like a bag of holding but it was just sand). Some prosthetics can't get wet at all. There were a few amputees who moved to the area when I was older who just didn't bother lol. It wasn't worth the extra effort needed for the maintenance.

People have allergies to the prosthetic material: This is less of a problem in the modern day, but some people are allergic to the materials their prosthetics are made from. You can usually find an alternative but depending on the type of allergy, some people are allergic to the replacements too.

Some people just don't like them.

There's nothing wrong with choosing to go without a prosthetic. There's nothing wrong with deciding they aren't for you. It doesn't make you a failure or sad or anything else. Using or not using prosthetics is a completely morally neutral thing.

Please, if you're writing amputees, consider if a prosthetic really is the best mobility aid for your character and consider having your characters go without, or at least mix it up a bit.

For example, Xari, one of the main characters in my comic, uses prosthetics unsupported and with crutches, and uses a wheelchair. They alternate between them throughout the story.

#disability #disabled #id in alt text #writing #writing disability #disability representation #authors of tumblr #write #writeblr #writers on tumblr #writerscommunity #writer #creative writing #writing tips #writing resources #writing help #writing advice #writing disability with cy cyborg

[saszor]

image description both in alt text and copied below!

third part of my "drawing visibly disabled people" drawing series :-) can't wait to do more TBH! it's so much fun drawing people like me.

[1] [2]

[image description copied from alt text: digital drawing of 11 characters on a pastel background. in the top left are two guys. the first one is white, fat, and wears a face mask. the second guy is white, blonde and an above knee amputee. they're talking. below them are three characters shown from the chest up; a Brown person with a cochlear implant, a niqabi with small eyes and only one of them appearing open holding a white cane (both of them have lesbian flags and matching rings), and a Black girl with Down Syndrome looking at her phone. The first two are giving their excited reactions to her. to the right of them is a family - a Black person without an arm and with a prosthetic leg using a cane, a South Asian pregnant woman with strabismus holding a white cane and their daughter holding on to her mom's clothes. on the right side of the image is a person using crutches, looking exhausted. they have a liver transplant scar and knock knees. next to them is a short Black man with osteogenesis imperfecta in a power wheelchair. he wears hearing aids. behind them is a burn survivor with locs typing on her phone - it has a notification with the OK sign in the colors of the character in bottom left.]

#my art #disabled artist #artists on tumblr #digital art #disabled ocs #ID in alt text #personal art #original art

[brandyllyn]

Cross My Heart

Ezra x f!reader

Summary: "I do not know who I am when I am half a man." Words: 5.7k

For the #pedrostoriesgift23 Holiday Gift Exchange and the lovely @oonajaeadira who is my secret giftee! Your prompt was :

Romance, soft, yearning, hopeful. F!reader. If there's a kiss involved, I wouldn't complain. Random prompt: heart.

Hope you enjoy it, as per usual Ezra got a little (a lot) away from me.

My Masterlist

Rated: Teen Warnings: Talk of self harm / suicide but no one does it, discussion of medical procedures and prostheses, some use of ability based slurs by Ezra and others, canon typical violence, hint of spice

The smell hit him first.

Sterile, antiseptic. There was no tang of iron, or the almost vinegary smell of the Green. No dirt, no grime, no unwashed bodies or hint of explosives. Not the sweet stench of decay.

It smelled wrong.

Ezra grimaced as he scanned his identicard, watching the numbers flash up and a younger, cockier version of himself stared down from the screen. The picture was from before his first trip. Before he’d left the inner rings to find his luck in the reaches. Long before the Green.

A line of text directed him to sit in the waiting area and he glanced over the occupants. An older man in a wheelchair sat in the corner, head leaning forward and a line of drool dripping onto one thigh as he snored loudly. He was missing both legs above the knee. A few feet away, a scrawny teenager furtively glanced around the room with one eye, the other an empty hole she hadn’t bothered to cover. A woman with her left arm amputated below the elbow. A man around his age who had the pale, sickly yellow tinged skin that denoted liver failure. Another wheelchair. Another amputee. The room was full of those who had lost something. 

He felt right at home.

The Emric Chan Prosthesis Clinic welcomed everyone - the most destitute scavenger could come on their free clinic day and if the stars aligned have their life changed. The doctor he’d seen on the sling had recommended it to him. He couldn’t afford anything better than a hook but if he was chosen here he’d get a neurobionic arm.

A fresh start.

He finally chose a seat next to a woman near his age, maybe a bit younger. She was missing her forefinger on her right hand, a place she fidgeted with as he watched. Running the thumb of her other hand across it and grimacing as though it still hurt. He could understand that. Though it had been months since he lost his arm the stump still twinged occasionally.

“How long have you been waiting?”

Her eyes met his and he noted their pretty color, the ring of lashes that framed them and the soft “oh” her lips made before she answered. “I got here this morning.”

He frowned, “That’s hours ago, are they struggling to see people today?”

She snorted and a small smile pulled at her lips. She was quite pretty. “First time?”

He smiled in return, “I am a veritable virgin sacrifice to these halls.”

A laugh escaped her and she quickly covered her mouth, glancing around the room to see if anyone noticed. “I doubt that.”

He wanted to hear that laugh again. “In this I am yet a babe in the woods. I take it that it is not as straightforward as arriving in a timely fashion for my appointment?”

“No,” a fidget again as she tangled her fingers together. “They’ve got this algorithm. It looks at how dire your situation is, what kind of prostheses they have, what doctors are available… I don’t really understand it. You see Alaric in the corner?” She tipped her chin to the man snoring in the wheelchair and Ezra nodded. “He’s been coming here longer than I have. Once a month for the free clinic, just like us. He’s never even been called back.”

It seemed to Ezra that the loss of both legs might be considered a more dire situation than his single arm. “That is not exactly comforting.”

A small shrug. “It’s what it is, and for those of us with no other options… at least it’s hope.”

He sighed and leaned back in his chair, sprawling his legs in front of him and staring at the toe of his boot. “I do not have much hope, I’m afraid.”

She gave him a wan smile. “It is a long shot. I’ve been coming for almost a year. There’s also precedence they follow, even more so than your need. People from Ceti Alpha IV, some old families if you can prove you’re related, miners, colonists from-”

Ezra sat bolt upright. “Hold a moment there, did you say miners?”

“Yeah, the guy who founded this place made his money out in the reaches. One of their protected classes are IMC members.”

The Interstellar Mining Cooperative. Why hadn’t he thought of it? He was a member, at least he was pretty sure he was. They had some sparse benefits that he had never made much use of - but the appended callsign had landed him a few premier docking spaces and discounts on the sling. He hadn’t thought about it in years, yet the membership should have renewed unless something had changed.

“And if I were an IMC member?”

Her smile faltered a moment before returning. “Then yeah, you’ll jump to the front unless there’s another miner with something more serious.”

A flush of joy spread over him and he fumbled with his data pad. It took longer than it should, he was yet unused to working solely with his left hand, but soon he had his member page in his hand, a bright gold chisel in the corner.

“Well I’ll be damned.” He turned the data pad to show her. “It seems my luck has finally turned.”

Her nod was accompanied by another tight smile and she let out a soft sigh as she settled back into her chair. “I guess there’s always next time.”

“Do not look so forlorn, gem,” his grin was so wide it almost hurt. “While the loss of a digit is inconvenient, I assure you things could be worse.”

Her eyes fell to her lap, where nine fingers were intertwined. Brows drawing together she frowned for a moment before shrugging. “I suppose so. You should update your file, make sure you’re seen today if they can.”

He rose to his feet and then paused. Quickly, he dropped to one knee in front of her and reached out with his remaining hand to take her injured one. “You didn’t have to tell me, I would have never known. Thank you.”

“If it’s not you it would have been someone else.” Her eyes were sparkling and he wondered if they were tears. “There’s always someone who takes the slot. Always.”

“I cannot offer you a new digit, I myself am down to only five, but I would like to offer you dinner. If you would like?”

A moment of uncertainty passed before she nodded. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

They traded identifications and he couldn’t help but look back as he crossed to the check-in. She had her hands pressed together to her chest, her lips resting on the back of one thumb.

He wondered if she was praying.

She wasn’t going to show.

Ezra tapped his fingers on the table and glanced around the room. It wasn’t the nicest place in the Narrows, but not the worst either. The food was good and if it came with a side of attitude in the basement of a pawn shop, who was he to judge?

The numbers on his watch clicked over and he sighed. He was in an extraordinarily good mood and she was ruining it. 

With a grunt he pulled the menu up on the table and selected a bottle of synthehol. It didn’t taste as good as the real thing, or so he was told, but it gave as good of a buzz as any. It arrived a moment later and he flicked the top off with practiced ease. Pouring his glass he held it to the light for a moment and then let a slow grin overtake his face.

He was getting a new arm.

A GH7 Neurobionic Prosthesis to be exact. Top of the line with a lifetime guarantee. 

A lifetime guarantee.

That would be enough to get everything back on track. To go back to prospecting if he wanted. According to the pamphlet the prosthesis would connect directly into his nervous system. The skin tone would match and he would be able to feel everything as though it was his original arm. In short, it would be as though it never happened. There were even opportunities to upgrade - if he could scare up the credits - and add in sensors and utilities that might help his life someday.

“Ezra?”

The soft voice jolted him from his reverie and he saw her standing nearby, a blue grey tunic belted at the waist and a pair of grey trousers underneath. A black armband peeked out from her sleeve. In a burst of motion he leapt to his feet, throwing his arm around her and pulling her into half an embrace.

“Darling, you came!” With a quick shuffle he led her to the other side of his table, letting her go long enough to pull the chair out and settle her into it. “May I offer you a libation? I have had finer vintages but it is quite nice in its own right.” At her nod he filled a glass for her, cheeks nearly hurting from the smile that wreathed his face when he sat across from her.

“I do not have the words to express my gratitude for your help this afternoon.” He pulled the menu up and spun it her direction. “Please, order whatever you like. This is my treat.”

“So I take it you qualified?”

“Passed with flying colors! My surgery is five spans hence.”

“That’s so good, just in time for the Prophet’s Name Day!” She flipped through the menu and ordered, flicking the holo away. “A basic unit or…?”

Taking it as a prompt he launched into the details of his new arm, pulling the brochure up on his data pad and showing her the specs. She made the appropriate oohing and ahhing noises as he did so, leaning in and pointing out some of the finer details such as the heating elements and pulse that would make it mimic the original even more closely than he had thought.

“It truly is a dream,” he sighed when he had finally finished. “And I have you to thank for it. If you hadn’t…” He swallowed, glancing away and feeling a flush come over him. “I must admit I was having thoughts of a rather permanent nature.”

Her hand came out to cover his, fingers intertwining. “Don’t talk like that.”

He turned his hand over in hers, returning her grip with a fierce squeeze, “I do not know who I am when I am half a man. My livelihood depends on the use of both - on the security of its presence. Without it… I ask you, what use would I be?”

“A man is more than his use, Ezra,” she scolded softly.

A shake of his head cut her off before she could continue. “Not for me. I am not made to be idle, nor to live on the charity of others. Had this not worked, had you not been there, well, I have cheated death enough to not begrudge her her final say.”

The look she gave him was commiserating but she didn’t argue. “I get it, sometimes it seems easier to just let go than it is to hope.”

“Oh, I have hope now, starshine, you have given me hope.”

She pulled her hand away and took a sip of her drink. “I didn’t do anything. You would have figured it out on your own.”

“Maybe,” he shrugged, “or maybe I would have let yet another chance at happiness pass me by.“ He gave her a considering look. She was pretty, in a way he might have overlooked in different circumstances. He had always been one to chase the flashy, to always be looking to the next thing and ignore what was in front of him. Maybe it was time to rethink that strategy.

“I don’t reckon you would be amenable to seeing me again?”

She looked away for a moment, lips pressed together as she nodded almost shyly. “I’m also in the ‘take a chance’ ship these days, and you seem nice.”

He laughed, “I can honestly say that no person has ever graced me with the moniker ‘nice’ before, but for you I shall strive to meet your aspirations.”

A grin played on her lips and she met his eyes. “Well, handsome then.”

“I am delighted that you think so,” he grinned in return. “Now, why don’t you tell me about your life before you found yourself seated in this lovely establishment this evening?”

They spoke for hours. About her time working in the dockyards, the early deaths of her parents, and the unscrupulous manager that necessitated her move to the Narrows. In return he spoke of the brother he had lost in the silicon mines, the various adventures he had been on while alone, and of Cee.

“A spitfire if ever I have seen one,” he claimed as a bot cleaned the table next to them. “She’s the reason you find me with less than the standard number of limbs.”

“Oh really?” She seemed shocked. “And you’re still taking care of her?”

“I am not ashamed to admit that I have not always been the best of men - when survival is on the line I can be positively ruthless. And Cee, well… Cee is much like myself. There is a spark in her, a fight. It is a trait I wish to nurture.”

“I don’t know if I could be like that,” she responded. “Be so heartless I hurt someone else just to save myself.”

“I’m wounded you think me so pitiless. Perhaps you could give me a chance to show you my softer side?”

He expected her to turn timid - everything he had learned about her so far gave the picture of a woman who was not prone to rash decisions or impulsiveness. So he was pleasantly surprised when she grinned at him.

“I could be convinced.”

He walked her home, of course. He liked to think himself a gentleman and was nothing if not an opportunist. Which was why when she tilted her head to his at her door he instantly swooped in, reaching out to pull her hips to his and slanting his mouth across hers. He groaned when she arched against him, biting at her lip before pulling back and giving her a slow smile.

“Would you like to come inside?”

His smile widened and he lifted a hand to brush against her cheek. At least, he would have had it been there. He could even see it, the calloused hand with the short fingernails gently tracing what he knew must be soft skin. 

But the absence jolted him from his good mood and he took a step away from her with a grimace. “I would like to be whole if we ever…”

She took his hand in hers, stepping into his space again. “You know I don’t care about that, right Ezra?”

Giving her a wane smile he nodded, “I do know that. But I care.”

“Then I understand.” After a pause she gave him a mischievous grin, “But we can still kiss, can’t we?”

“We absolutely can do that,” he assured her, backing her into the door and closing the distance between them once more. “As often as you’ll allow.”

Her only answer was a low moan that rumbled into his skin and set him afire.

It was going to be a long six spans.

“You don't have to go with me.”

Ezra guided her around a group of teenagers and chuckled as he squeezed her tighter. “You act as though it is a burden to spend time with you.”

“It’s boring. I know, I've been doing it for a cycle.”

It was free clinic day and Ezra had shown bright and early at her flat with a bag of pastries to help her start the morning. She had seemed surprised by his arrival, wrapping a shawl over her shoulders but inviting him in for morning caf and together they had devoured the pastries before she began her trek to the other end of the City.

“It's no trouble, it will give me time to think on my own matters.”

She smiled at a vendor and he gave the man a once over before dismissing him.

“Matters like if you want to include a full arm tattoo?”

He snorted. “The thought occurred but it holds no charm for me. Rather, I've been trying to remember if I had a mole on my pinky or not.”

“Isn’t there a whole saying about knowing things like the back of your hand?”

He stopped her with a slight tug, pulling her into an alcove. With a quick movement he covered her hand with his. “Do you have any?”

She frowned. “On the outside of the back, I think? More like a freckle.”

“Anything else? Scars? Do you know how long your nail beds are?”

She huffed and tugged her hand free, crooking a smile and pointing out the freckle. “For the nail beds, I’d just have them match the other hand.”

“Ah starshine,” he wrapped his arm around her waist again, “your skin is far more unblemished than mine. It will be strange to see skin as marred as mine was - but perhaps it is better to have a clean slate? These are the question that plague me.”

“It’s not-”

Someone shoved into her and she fell against him suddenly. He lifted his other arm to catch her but nothing moved but the short stump. Thrown off balance they both stumbled and, after seeing to her well-being, he rounded on the perpetrator with a fierce frown.

“Watch where you are going.” The man was around his size, maybe an inch taller. Ezra sized him up in a glance, a street thug who would barely be worth the effort of a fight if it came to it.

“Keep your pumbavu bitch out of my way.”

Ezra carefully shifted his expression to the smoothly friendly one he reserved for wayward prospectors who happened to cross his path with more gems than sense.

“There is no need for that kind of language, friend, there is plenty of room for us all.” He gestured at the narrow sidewalk. “Perhaps an apology and we can all be on our way?”

“Apologize?” the man snorted. “To some ampee and whoever was pathetic enough to take your credits?”

“This is your warning,” Ezra told him slowly, shifting his stance and reaching for the knife in his belt. “There will not be another.”

“And what are you going to do? Shoulder me to death?”

Ezra barely waited for him to finish the sentence, palming the blade and slashing out in nearly the same motion. He heard the soft gasp from behind him but ignored her, all of his concentration on the man in his sights. The blade whistled through air and Ezra adjusted, stepping forward and flipping the blade around to catch him on the backswing. From his peripheral he saw the punch coming from his right and raised his hand to block it.

With nothing there the blow caught him squarely in the jaw, sending him reeling back as his vision danced. The force of it made him drop his blade and he heard it clatter to the metal grates beneath their feet before slipping through and disappearing below.

“Prophet’s nutsack, I’ll fucking-”

Suddenly she was there, between them, throwing her arms out and pleading with the man. “Please, this is all a misunderstanding. No one’s hurt, can’t we just leave it at that?”

Ezra, for one, felt hurt but he didn’t say anything about it, shaking his head and trying to stop his ears from ringing.

“Tell your cripple boyfriend to mind his own business.”

Snarling, Ezra prepared to launch himself at the man once more but she had his cheeks in her hands and the concerned look on her face quelled his ire.

“Are you okay? How’s your head?”

“It will be fine, I’ve had worse.”

“Ezra…” she chided, “what were you thinking?”

“I was thinking that rat needed a lesson in manners.” She laughed and he realized suddenly how petulant he sounded. “Are you okay, starshine?”

She laid a hand to her chest, “My heart is racing. That can’t be good for me.”

“A little adrenaline keeps you young.”

She gave him a wan smile even as she took deep, steadying breaths. Holding a finger to the pulse point on her wrist she stood a moment longer before she seemed satisfied. “Don’t do things like that, okay?”

“I can make you no promises,” he held an elbow out for her to take and continued them on their way. “I am a man more suited to fight than flight.”

“Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

Ezra nodded absently, the white walls around him almost mocking in their sterility. His life was about to change and here he was sitting on a paper covered bed in little more than a nightgown.

“And you’re sure you don’t want me to tell Cee?”

“No,” he cut her off quickly, running his hand through his hair and likely ruffling it beyond recovery. “Cee does not need to know of any of this until it is finished.”

She was bustling around the room, folding his clothes into a neater pile and tossing him concerned glances. “I can’t believe you feel more guilty about her than she does about shooting you.”

Ezra shrugged. It was a discussion they had had before and he knew she didn’t understand. She didn’t need to, but he liked that she was trying. 

“Trust me, starshine, she feels exactly as much guilt as she should for her actions.” He caught her arm as she went by again and pulled her to stand between his legs. Pulling her hand to his lips he kissed the spot where her finger was missing. “Are you planning to rearrange the entire room?”

“I’m nervous,” she admitted, leaning into his embrace and settling her head on his shoulder. “Are you sure you don’t want me to wait here for you?”

“Absolutely not.” He pushed her away so that he could meet her eyes so she would know how serious he was. “Assuming all goes well I will come find you after, don’t you worry about that.”

She didn’t ask what he would do if it didn’t go well - and he didn’t know what his answer would have been regardless.

“HG460372 Theta?”

The voice at the doorway sounded bored and Ezra glanced up as it read off his IMC number. 

“Present.”

“Follow me.”

He slipped off the table and pulled her in for a kiss. “I’ll see you this evening. Wait up for me?”

“I’d wait forever for you.”

For that she got one more quick kiss before he followed after the nurse.

Ezra flexed his fingers, noting the fine brown hairs on his knuckles and the small scar at the base of his thumb. With his left hand he pressed two fingers to his wrist, feeling the steady pulse. The skin wrinkled and moved as he tested it, marveling at the fine interconnected lines.

“Ezra?”

He whipped his head up. He hadn’t even noticed the door sliding open. But there she was, her eyes wide and lips parted as she stared at his new arm. 

At his whole self.

“Oh Ezra, how does it-”

He cut her off with a hand to the back of her neck, pulling her towards him even as he backed her into her small flat. Fingertips felt the hairs at the top of her spine, felt the give of her skin, felt the warmth of her.

“Ezra,” she managed to push him away slightly even as he wrapped his other arm around her waist. “Show me the-”

“I want to feel you, starshine.” They were at her sofa now and he carefully pushed her onto her back, straddling her waist with his knees before pulling away. “We can speak of the particulars at a more opportune time.”

She giggled and yanked him back to her and he caught himself on his prosthetic. He could feel the rough weave of the upholstery even as he shifted his weight so he could use his right hand to undo the buttons of her shirt.

“The doctors told me I should practice my fine motor skills,” he pushed her shirt apart and cupped one of her breasts in his hand. The soft material of her bra gave beneath his fingers and he traced upwards to pull the cup down before he felt something new. 

“What is this?” With a sly grin he traced his fingers over the faint ridges running from her breast up to her shoulder. “A body modification? Do you have others? A tattoo perhaps?”

She faltered, her smile freezing on her face. “Can we not talk about that, Ezra?”

“Ah, a youthful indiscretion? I understand.” He helped her shrug her shirt off and his eyes caught on the band of black encircling her left upper arm. He’d noticed it before, not really giving it much thought. But now that it was exposed he could see that the lines under her skin ran directly to it.

“I must admit you have my curiosity, am I allowed to remove this or-”

She sat up so quickly she nearly brained him, only his quick reflexes allowing him to rear back and avoid a broken nose.

“Do not!”

He spread his fingers wide, noting with pride how strong both of his hands looked. “I will not if you do not wish it, of course, but I should know the bounds of what I can and cannot do. May I touch it at all?”

A deep breath lifted her breasts and he tried to ignore the motion while she gathered herself.

“It’s probably better if you don’t.”

“Then I will not.” He lowered his hands to grip her wrists, massaging the skin with his fingers. “Your secrets are your own, but I hope you will allow me one more question?” At her nod he lifted her left hand and placed a kiss on her knuckles. “Is it dangerous? A drug of some kind?”

“No.” A long silence stretched before she elaborated. “It’s a battery pack.”

Slowly, he let his fingers trace over the edges of the band, following the lines embedded into her skin until they disappeared into her chest. Under the pads of his fingers he could hear the steady, delicate thump of her heart. “A battery pack?”

She didn’t answer but he didn’t need her to. At once the realization crashed on him and he cursed, damning himself for an idiot as he realized how oblivious he had been.

“The clinic - you are not visiting to get your finger replaced, are you?”

She shook her head, refusing to meet his eyes.

“Starshine, why didn’t you say something? I could have-”

“There’s nothing you could have done,” she interrupted, suddenly taking his hand with her own.

“I could have given you my spot.” He clenched his fist, staring at the ripple of tendons and wires. “I could have forced them to see you instead.”

“Really? You told me you were days from killing yourself if the clinic hadn’t worked out.”

Ezra didn’t reply, his mind a jumble of conflicting thoughts. A month ago he would have agreed. Told her that to live even a moment longer as a cripple was too much. But now…

“I could have waited my turn, if it meant you getting yours.”

“It wouldn’t have mattered,” she shrugged. “You can’t give up your place like that.”

He laid a palm flat to her chest. “How long?”

“The cardiac unit is a stopgap, they gave me eight months if all went well.”

He stilled, fingers briefly clutching at her. “And how long ago was that?”

“A full cycle.”

“A year,” he croaked, feeling as though perhaps all of his hair had turned white with that statement. “But…”

She pressed her hand to his, over her chest. “It was longer than I ever expected. I fell into the stasis field at the shipyards a year ago - it totally fried my system.” 

“And so you need a new heart.”

“A Yutani-7 artificial heart to be exact, but yeah. Can we get back to the kissing now?”

Ezra leaned back as she reached for him and then couldn’t help a wry smile at her exaggerated pout. “Starshine, you can’t spring a terminal condition on a man and expect him to perform for you.”

She tried to give him a seductive look but betrayed herself with a soft sniffle. “I ruined it didn’t I?”

Shifting to lie next to her, Ezra pulled her into his arms, tucking her head beneath his chin and petting down her back. “You ruined nothing. I am only morose you did not tell me sooner so I might have had time to come to terms with the knowledge before being asked to ravish you.”

“So is ravishing off the table then?”

She sounded so forlorn he couldn’t help but laugh. “Of course not, but perhaps tonight is not the time-”

It was a marvel she managed to surprise him, leveraging herself upwards and yanking his face down to hers in a wild, rough kiss. When she finally broke away for air they were both panting.

“I don’t know how much time I have left, Ezra.”

“An uncharitable blow, starshine.”

“Please.”

Well, who was he to deny a woman who begged so sweetly?

“I have a surprise for you.”

She blinked up at him wearily, a confused frown on her face before she answered. “What?”

“A surprise,” he whipped the blanket from over her, smiling at the adorable bundle of fleece and sweaters she was wrapped in beneath. “Are you cold?”

“Poor circulation,” she mumbled as she slowly sat up, rubbing a hand across her eyes. “Side effect of - you know. What do you mean a surprise?”

Letting his smile slip he sat at the edge of the couch, settling his hand on her knee. “How are you feeling?”

“Cold, a little out of breath. Pretty normal stuff all things considered. What surprise?”

“It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you now would it?” He jumped to his feet, yanking a sweater from a nearby chair and holding it out to her. “Here, I don’t want you to be cold.”

“Ezra, why are you bleeding?”

He glanced down at his arm, at the thin tendrils of synthetic red liquid that rose from a series of scratches that ran the length of his forearm. “No reason, come on.”

She caught his hand but he quickly shook her off, bustling her into the sweater and out her door. One of her neighbors had set out candles for Name Day and he carefully steered her around them.

“If I can’t ask why you’re bleeding can I ask why you have a black eye?”

“You may not,” he responded cheerily.

“Ezra…”

He pulled her close to his side and navigated her out of the alley. “I must ask that you hold your queries until the end of the day, starshine. All will be revealed in time.”

A soft huff escaped her but she didn’t say anything, letting him lead her through the underbelly of the city and to a building they both knew far too well.

“Ezra it’s not the right day,” she told him as he led her to a side entrance.

“You are correct.” He pulled the door open and ushered her inside. A long hallway stretched in front of them and Ezra walked down it with confidence until he found the office he was looking for. A man was sitting behind the desk, his grey lab coat marred by a spot of blood and a drawn look on his face.

“Is this the patient?”

“It is,” Ezra responded as he sat her in a chair. “And you have the item?”

“They’re not easy to find, you know. I had to forge about ninety seven different manifests.”

“Ezra…” she whispered, eyes wide, but he cut her off with a squeeze to her shoulder.

“And will that complicate matters?”

The doctor steepled his fingertips above the desk and sighed. “It won’t.”

“Good, good.” Ezra was pacing behind her, darting glances around the room and flexing his prosthetic arm as though worried it might remember its origins in a room nearby. “So you can begin?”

“My family?”

“Safe,” his smile had a hard edge and he didn’t try to hide the knife at his belt. “For now.”

“Then let’s get this done.”

The doctor rose and she rose with him, a look of concern marring her perfect features. “What have you-?”

“If harm befalls her,” Ezra threatened softly, grabbing a fistful of the doctor’s coat, “you know what will happen?”

The doctor gave him a curt nod and Ezra let him go. Waiting a moment he finally turned back to her. To his lover, his starshine…

His everything.

“What is happening?”

“A Name Day miracle, for all intents and purposes.” She seemed confused and he leaned down to press a kiss to her lips. “I might have performed a few dastardly deeds to move your case to the front of the line.”

“Oh Ezra, you didn’t-”

“Hush,” he kissed her once more. “I would do it again a thousand times over for you.”

“But what about after, Ezra? What happens to you?”

He shrugged nonchalantly, “I suppose I will need to find myself a new place to live, perhaps outside of where the law might reach. I don’t suppose you would want to come with me?”

For all his bravado he was shocked when she nodded, and even more so when she threw her arms around his neck and pressed her forehead to his. “After you’ve done this for me? I would follow you anywhere, Ezra.”

“Sweet starshine,” he held her to him tightly for a moment before releasing her and stepping away, “you need to go and get your new heart.”

“You’ll be here when I’m done?”

He pulled her hand into his, pressing a kiss to the back. “I promise.”

“Cross your heart?”

With a smile he rubbed his lips on the blank spot where her finger once sat before letting her go. “Of course. But I must warn you, mine hasn’t been my own to promise for some time now.”

For updates on stories please follow and turn on notifications for @brandyllyn-writes

Tagging in Adira once more. I hope you enjoyed your Ezra Holiday treat. @oonajaeadira

#pedrostoriesgift23 #pedrostories #ezra x reader #holiday fic exchange

[anironwitch]

Nitpick November 3

Okay, so how does James prosthetics specifically his arm and chest prosthetics work?

Over the years, because of characters like Yang, Mercury, and (Mostly TBH) James. I have gotten into learning more about how prosthetics work.

(Pardon about the image quality being ass)

I have an okay understanding of below-the-knee amputations and above-the-knee amputations (BKA & AKA.) With James and Mercury having AKA amputations, their prosthetics would probably connect with the residual limb in a variety of ways, with suction or connecting pin system being the most common I have seen.

The same applies to Yang and her arm prosthetic, but James not only lost his entire right arm. (Eventually, yes, he loses his left arm, Something, Something, there is no war in Ba Sing Se and Volume 7, 8 & 9. I count it, but how it was acquired is because of Ableism and Racism in the Writers' choices put a rancid taste in my mouth as a Disabled Asian myself.)

James seems to have lost a fair amount of his body, and considering the implant/sensor, James has probably helped him regulate autonomic functions. It makes me wonder how much can he remove his chest prosthetic parts? He has to have them removed when they get wet or dirty, need to repair, adjustments, improvements, etc.?

Are James's prosthetics water-insoluble? They must be since you know he has to shower and deal with snow and rain? Most amputees remove their prosthetics when going to sleep, so does James only remove his right arm and leg prosthetics? Is it comfortable for him to sleep? Knowing James, I could see him being so tired he sleeps with them on anyway? Now, as someone who likes to fanfic mostly in my head, in private, and publishes sometimes. This leaves me with more questions and research I feel obliged to do.

#rwde #nitpick november #This took me shorter than I expected #james ironwood #yang xaio long #Merucry Black #This has been living in my head rent free since I started writing fics

[panther-os]

My ggpa was an above the knee amputee who lost his leg in WW2. He had a few different prosthetics he switched between based on mood, fashion, and what he was planning on doing that day. I remember most clearly a blue metal one that was easiest for him as he got older and his posture changed and joints got more painful.

Another one of his prosthetics, however, was a fairly realistic one with fake skin and everything. This one got harder for him over time and he started keeping it in his hall closet and never wearing it. But every single time someone visited, he left that closet door open and they inevitably got jumpscared by the random leg in the closet. One time I remember someone tiredly asking him why and he pulled up his pant leg to show the prosthetic he was wearing and was just like "yeah they let me keep it".

Anyways, Alex Keller does this.

(Iirc, with the "yeah they let me keep it" incident, he had his arm around ggma's shoulders and she gave him a gentle little smack on the chest with the back of her fingers. Farah does this.)

((Another headcanon I have for Alex based on ggpa is that each prosthetic he has gets a different assigned shoe and he chooses his prosthetic first in the morning and then puts the matching shoe on his other foot, instead of choosing his shoes and fitting them onto and off of his prosthetic every time he goes out and comes back. Yes, this means he wears shoes indoors, Farah despairs of her white man but she understands it's medical related.))

#/incoherent noises/ #call of duty #cod #alex keller #farah karim #faralex

[dear-indies]

Good day/night!

I want to request someone between the ages 20-30, that wear prosthetics (legs or arms). I usually prefer actors because I like to have more resources, but at the end of the day I appreciate any help you can give me. Another thing is that I want to make them an elf, those with very advanced technology during fantasy "medieval" times so maybe you will find someone who can fit the vibe. Any gender is good, I do not have a preference. These are just some suggestions and ideas I have, again, I will appreciate anyone you can find.

Thank you so much for your time and effort, you are amazing!

Angel Giuffria (1990) - is a congenital left arm amputee and uses a prosthetic arm - uses she/they.

Eric Graise (1990) African-American - is a double leg amputee and uses prosthetic legs and a wheelchair.

Ruth Codd (1996) - is a right leg below the knee amputee and uses a prosthetic leg.

Alaqua Cox (1997) Menominee / Mohican - is a lower right leg amputee and uses a prosthetic leg - is also Deaf.

Not actors:

Paola Antonini (1994) Brazilian - is a left leg above the knee amputee and uses a prosthetic leg.

Lyric Mariah (1995 or 1996) African-American - is right foot amputee and uses a prosthetic.

Juan Pablo Dos Santos (1999) Venezuelan - is a double above the knee leg amputee and uses prosthetic legs.

Hannah Olateju (1999 or 2000) Nigerian - is a double leg and double arm amputee and uses prosthetic legs.

Alex Parra (2000) - is a left leg above the knee amputee and uses a prosthetic leg.

I'm sorry I couldn't give more suggestions, anon!

#fc help #rph #rpc #disabled fc

[amputeewomen]

What do you think about this dress?

Mia: Hey, Sophie, do you think I can pull off this dress?

Sophie: Mia, you look stunning! That shade of blue is gorgeous on you.

Mia: Thanks, Sophie! But do you think it looks odd with my flat shoes? I have to wear them because of my prosthetic.

Sophie: Not at all, you look chic and comfortable. It's all about how you feel in it, and honestly, I think the flats add a cool, casual vibe to your look.

Mia: I was a bit self-conscious about it. I want to look nice but I also need to be practical.

Sophie: Trust me, Mia, you've got both down perfectly. You're rocking that dress, and the flats are a smart choice. You're showing off your unique style, and that's what fashion is all about!

Mia: You know, Sophie, it wasn't an easy decision, but I'm actually happy I chose to amputate. Those endless surgeries to save my leg wouldn't have been worth it.

Sophie: I can't even imagine how tough that decision must have been, Mia. But seeing you now, so vibrant and full of life, I think you made a brave and wise choice.

Mia: It felt like I was taking control back from my situation, you know? Instead of being stuck in an endless loop of surgeries and recovery.

Sophie: Absolutely. You took charge of your life, and that's admirable. And can I just say, your prosthetic is seriously cool. It's like high-tech fashion.

Mia: Really? I guess it does have a kind of modern edge to it.

Sophie: For sure! It's sleek, it's functional, and it represents your strength and resilience. It's part of what makes you unique, Mia. And paired with your style? Unstoppable.

#amputee #amputeegirl #amputee girl #amputada #amputierte frau #amputation #amputiert #amputee woman #stumps #amputeewoman #stump #amputee beauty #amputeebeauty #prosthetic leg #prosthesis #artificial leg #lak #sak #left above knee amputee #leg amputee #onelegged #one legged #one leg

[jackcast2021]

Looking good in pink

#leg amputee #sak amputee #sak amputee woman #sak amputee girl #Disabled girl #uses a wheelchair #amputee #crippled girl #Handicapped #wears glasses #wears eyeglasses #WEARS SPECTACLES

[cy-cyborg]

Tips for drawing and writing amputees: The prosthetic needs something to hold onto

Prosthetics need to be able to hold on to the body.

If you're giving your amputee something similar to 99.99% of modern prosthetics, this will be done through a socket. This is a ridged cup made perfectly for the amputee that holds the prosthetic onto the body. Older prosthetics (mostly anything before the 90's) made the prosthetic socket intentionally tight in spots, which is what held it in place. Some people with sensitive skin still use this style of prosthetic but they've mainly fallen out of use in favour for suction sockets. These sockets create a vacuum seal that holds the prosthetic in place. These can work in two ways, either just by forcing excess air out of the socket and creating the seal that way, or for some legs, sucking that excess air out and into an "ankle" mechanism to offer some extra suspension and padding in the step.

Some prosthetics will also use additional measures as well as suction, such as pin-locks, where the amputee wears a sock with a screw at the bottom that clips into a mechanism at the bottom of the socket, or a prosthetic with movable panels that can be tightened via cables running through the socket.

I've used all of these except the pin lock socket, and they all have one thing in common: The sockets need as much space as possible. For prosthetics using suction in particular, this is to spread out the amount of force being applied to the leg. If all the suction is being applied to the end of the stump, it's going to get sore and could even damage the skin. If that same amount of suction is applied to a much wider area, it's going to feel less intense. Likewise, older prosthetics needed as much space to work with as possible too, as applying tight pressure to a small area as opposed to a larger surface to keep the tension isn't good for your skin or muscles in that spot.

For this reason, the sockets will take up all of the space available without limiting movement, meaning they will go all the way up to the next major joint. An amputee who lost their hand through the wrist will have a socket that goes all the way to their elbow. An amputee who lost their leg through or above the knee will have a socket that goes all the way to their hip.

Sometimes, if an amputation is particularly close to a major joint and there isn't a lot of space left between the stump and the next major joint, prosthetists will opt to immobilise the closest joint and take the socket all the way up to the next major joint. This was something I've actually discussed with my prosthetist. My left leg is amputated below the knee, but I only have a few centimetres of space below the knee. That leg occasionally needs revisions, meaning they take the very tip off of the stump to help correct issues with weird bone growth, scarring, infections etc, but if I get another revision, my leg will be too short to comfortably wear a socket, so my knee will need to be immobilised and my leg will become, functionally, an above knee amputation, despite still having the joint. This is rare, but it happens on occasion, showing that sometimes that need for space trumps even the use of a still functional joint. It's really important.

I wanted to bring this up because I see a lot of people draw sockets on their amputee's prosthetics, but they're much too tiny to be comfortable!

I did mention most prosthetics use a socket, but not all do. Some old prosthetics did not have sockets and were held in place using other methods.

This is a "prosthetic" my prosthetist found in his company's back room. He's not sure when it was made, but together we came up with an estimate of it being made around the 70's for a through-hip amputee (meaning someone who's whole leg was amputated with no stump at all)

It's designed so that the user would rest their hip on the cushion and use the handle to hold it in place and move it in time with their walk. This kind of mobility aid isn't often used anymore (me nor my prosthetist have seen one out in the world), and seems to have faded in use during the 80's as sockets were invented that could better hold onto the hip and pelvis for through-hip amputees and the use of wheelchairs for amputees became less stigmatised.

There's also A new type of prosthetic has been developed called the Osseointegration prosthetic, which also doesn't use a socket either. These are very rare as they are incredibly expensive and still very risky, but these prosthetics bypass the socket and implant the prosthetic directly into the body through a rod planted inside one's stump bone. This rod has a clip at the end of the stump, so the external part of the prosthetic can be removed as needed (and replaced). The reason they are risky though is that they are EXTREMELY prone to infection. I only know one person who had this implanted successfully, but he has to be very careful to keep his leg clean or else it will get infected (and it frequently does, he's constantly on antibiotics). Everyone else I know who got it had to get it removed.

With time these implants will get safer, but we are a very, very long way off from that right now.

#Writing Disability with Cy Cyborg #disability #disabled #id in alt text #writing #writing disability #writeblr #authors of tumblr #writing advice #creative writing #on writing #writing tips #writing resources #writing help #authors on tumblr #authors #artists #artists on tumblr #artblr #drawing #art tips #art reference #amputee #amputee representation #prosthetics #disability aids #mobility aid #disability representation #disabled artist

[agentkikirogers]

Mentions of implied rape sayings and well ableism of course.

I went to a "doctor" yesterday and we were talking about other amputee patients they had. They mentioned one who had cancer out of nowhere and lost both legs above the knee. He said the man was very healthy and would do marathons and had a beautiful fiance. He expressed sympathy for the fiance on how "tough it'll be for her". Um, for her? Yeah sure all parties will deal with what happened but the man is the biggest focal point.

He mentioned another man this one in his 70s and married to his wife for a long time until he lost his leg and she left him. The elder said he couldn't blame her.

Being on dating sites are hard too after a disability in my opinion. People constantly tell me "I don't need anyone to be happy". Okay so why do YOU have someone? That line hits different when you are disabled. Another is "I see tons of disabled folks on tv/YouTube that are married or have kids you can too!" Or suggest you should date another (same or similar) disabled person.

So you go on sites. Now I have more than just a leg loss so there's other things to disclose and talk about. Unfortunately I have alot of health issues on top of being an amputee. Nevertheless people are nice but no bite. People look at you different and treat you lesser than an abled bodied person.

"Man you must be easier to access now without legs" or "you cant run away from anyone now thats the perfect woman" is not a compliment but extremely rape vibes. There's fetishers too. My friends have them often I've encounter a few but it's uncomfortable. Asking to do things with our "stumps" (hate that word but) is really creepy. Why would you want someone to not escape? "Can you have sex still if you are disabled?" For most of us, yeah. Also why is it a burden to date us? Look at Shane and Hannah. Why do people assume someone is dating us for money or other nefarious reasons? Interabled relationships do happen and CAN last. Some of us do need a caregiver and sometimes our partner can take care of us but still be with us.

For me I don't need a caregiver so someone wouldn't really have to take care of me. The only thing I would neeed help with is outdoor chores or things requiring ladders. I wouldn't say dating somebody that is disabled is a burden there's a lot of situations that you might have to deal with when it comes to their mental health if anything or just the physical limitations but even dating another abled person comes with limitations and dealing with hardships so we're just similar in that aspect.

I would say that dating disabled in the gay community is harder than in the straight community in my opinion just from stories that I've heard from other queer folk about it and I can see why it would be and it sucks that it would happen more in that Community than a straight Community you would think that we would be more open and accepting of others that are different than the societal "Norm".

What are you thoughts? Disabled or abled comments are encouraged.

#Personal #Disabled #Disability #disabled thoughts #Disabled dating

[scifi-and-realism]

Like You Never Lost It

There are many individuals in comics that are amputees, Bucky Barnes, Roy Harper, Cyborg, and even Aquaman and Thor in some continuities. Yet they usually have a prosthetic limb (or in cyborg's case his almost entire body) that works just as well as the actual limb, like missing a limb isn't even an issue. In real life while there has been great strides in progress to make up for injuries, accidental, or genetic loss of limb, they are not anywhere near the level as fictional prosthetics. Let's explore how they differ.

Roy Harper, Green Arrow's past sidekick going by Arsenal, has a prosthetic arm that can turn into a variety of weapons in addition to a function as his arm/hand and seeing how guns or lasers could almost definitely be impossible to add to someone's prosthetic realistically, I am not going to touch on his or any other enhanced prosthetic. I am more so going to talk about the kind like the one above. Bucky Barnes (I would say spoiler but its likely you already read my Cryostasis post so you know he lives) fell down a mile deep ravine and most likely either broke his fall with his left arm, causing him to lose it complete up to the shoulder. Hydra wanting a weapon of war couldn't have an assassin with on arm, so they soldered (and I mean soldered) a new one onto him. As you can see in the gif the plates shift and move instead of muscles flexing and he can control it as much as it's his own hand.

Real life prosthetics are a different story, while lower limbs are easier to compensate for, as you just need to articulate an ankle and a knee, in arms you have the elbow a kin to the knee more you also have your hands, which consist of 27 bones. You have 8 carpals (bones in your wrist), five in your palm, and then the last 14 are in your fingers, all covered in tendons so you can have fine motor control. When losing an arm you lose all of that dexterity. With a prosthetic you can make something that looks like the limb you lost or you can have better functionality in something that looks much more mechanical, you sadly can't have both you need to compromise somewhere. Not to mention the more functional ones are still not much more than a claw or a few pincers for a hand and a pulley attached to the working shoulder to move the elbow and claw. There are more intensive ones that you can put sensors to pick up the electrical signals being sent out and measured to the real one to garner the desired reaction but most cases you have to set up a means to know what to do beforehand and program it that way you cannot simply tell it to move and it will. So, sadly despite all the innovations of getting closer to an on par prosthetic, there's no Hydra limbs

[esoutherngolf]

2023 Simpson Cup

U.S. Team Finalized for On Course Foundation’s 2023 Simpson Cup at Royal Lytham & St. Annes The U.S. team of wounded veterans to compete in On Course Foundation’s 2023 Simpson Cup, September 24-27 at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club in England is finalized. The 13 qualifying U.S. players are here, ranging in age from 29 to 58 across eight states coast to coast and include four rookies, five amputees and handicaps from .7 to 18.  Marty Caraway, a former Marine, is team captain for the second consecutive Simpson Cup.  Service members of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines are represented. The four-day event features two days of Ryder Cup-style matches between 13 golfers per team.  The first day’s battle is better-ball match play with six points at stake and the second showcases 13 singles, straight match play with 13 points at stake.  The first team to reach 10 points wins the Simpson Cup.  The competition is flanked by emotional opening and closing ceremonies a la the Ryder Cup and Olympics. “We’re coming for this cup and have the dynamics, personalities and work ethic that meld well,” says Caraway.  “That said, while winning the Simpson Cup is fun, it’s superseded by On Course Foundation helping wounded veterans gain incredible purpose, experiences, mental and physical wellness, friendships, golf jobs and memories.” Entering this year’s 11th Simpson Cup, the U.S. won five matches and the U.K. five.  Host site Royal Lytham & St. Annes has produced 11 Open Championships and five Women’s British Opens.  Past Simpson Cup venues include TPC Sawgrass, Congressional, Royal St. George’s, Oak Hill, Royal Birkdale, Maidstone, St. Andrews, The Creek and Baltusrol. Team members’ hidden and physical wounds sustained from the heat of battle include PTSD, brain tumors, amputations, emphysema, traumatic brain injuries, joint raptures, spinal issues and broken backs, hips, ribs, collarbones, femurs and sternums. Some U.S. team player highlights: - Chad Pfeifer, 42, is an army veteran who persevered to overcome the loss of his left leg above the knee to become a scratch golfer.  He finished third in the 2022 U.S. Adaptive Open and first among competitors with physical impairments. - Shauna Snyder, 57, is the team’s only female and 2023 marks the third time she qualified for a Simpson Cup.  She overcame complex back, neck, shoulder and hip injuries from decades in the U.S. Army Medical Department. - Nick Kimmel, 34, is among the miraculous Simpson Cup stories.  An IED explosion in Afghanistan left him without both legs above knee and his left arm above the elbow.  A golfer as a youth, the triple-amputee was “tortured” about the notion of never playing again. “The desire wasn’t there, and the primary thought was that missing limbs would cause me to sit on the sidelines forever,” says Kimmel.  “Then I learned about On Course Foundation and since joining, members prompted me not to feel sorry for myself, overcome the physical and psychological pain by thinking positively, and get back into the swing of things. The Simpson Cup is named after On Course Foundation founder John Simpson, the longtime business manager for Nick Faldo, Vijay Singh, Bernard Langer, Nick Price and other Tour players.  As a child, he was stricken with polio that to this day renders his left leg nonfunctional.  Simpson’s disability, and his speaking with injured veterans at Headley Court in the U.K. in 2010, led him to marry golf and goodwill, ultimately creating On Course Foundation. “It’s amazing to see those who sacrificed so much and still undergo severe PTSD and physical challenges, compete at such a high level,” says Simpson.  “This is pinnacle event on our program calendar and a major mechanism for On Course Foundation to raise awareness and funds.” Simpson Cup sponsors include Charles Schwab, Barclays, Topgolf Callaway Brands, The Sinclair Charity and the Summit Golf Brands. On Course Foundation helps active and retired, injured Service members develop playing abilities while teaching career skills to work in the golf industry.  It then places them in jobs with the likes of Dormie Network, Golf Pride, Invited, Landscapes Unlimited, Marriott Golf, TaylorMade Golf, Topgolf Callaway Brands, TPC Network and Troon, as well as at golf courses, country clubs and resorts nationwide.  More than 2,200 wounded veterans have benefitted from On Course Foundation learning programs in the U.S. and Europe since 2010. More information:  oncoursefoundationusa.org. Read the full article

[cotton-candy-haze]

WAIT you have a ted lasso OC??? pls tell me everything

I do! She's wonderful and I love her and this show literally has me in an iron grip that I will never recover from lmao

But anyway, her name is Ximena Cardenas and she's originally from the US and she's not super developed at the moment, but I do have some of the basics of her backstory down

She started playing soccer when she was like a baby and her parents did the whole crazy sports parent thing. She had a natural talent for it, she started getting onto better and better teams the longer she played, and as she got older she really started thinking about trying to make a career out of it. Then, the summer before her sophomore year of high school, like a few weeks before her 15th birthday, she was in the car with a friend and her older sister when they got into a really bad car accident.

She had to have her left leg amputated above the knee and then she basically goes through a lot rehab, physical therapy, etc. She gets really interested in physical therapy as a career at this point, studies it in college, and becomes a sports physical therapist. When Rebecca is trying to screw Richmond over in the first season, she offers a job to Ximena as the team physiotherapist because she's young and not well-known and Rebecca thinks she'll negatively impact the team's reputation. Ximena takes the job and at some point (in season two I'm thinking) she develops a romantic relationship with Jamie

I also kinda want her to get involved with amputee soccer at some point and have her be part of the USA Amputee Soccer Team, but I don't know where/how to work that into her timeline yet (also I feel like I want something that have happened in the US that sort of pushes her to take the job with Richmond and run away, but idk what I want that to be yet)

#thank you for indulging me #i love this show so much #ximena cardenas: ted lasso oc #tw amputation #ask the ocs #answered

[technicaldr]

8 impressive medical device startups to watch [2022]

The following 8 companies have caught our eye for their impressive medical devices, from digital health tools to AI-powered diagnostics.

  1. LegWorks

  LegWorks is a medical device company providing quality prosthetic knees and making them affordable to everyone. According to LegWorks, 90% of amputees in developing countries don’t have access to prosthetic devices. CEO Brandon Burke lost his leg above the knee at age 18 and found that he would end up destroying his prosthetic knees and wanted to create a new option. He partnered with Jan Andrysek, chief technology officer, to create their All-Terrain Knee. They also offer other types that are saltwater safe or ones that offer the ability to jog and/or run. The company's goal is to offer prosthetic knees to those people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to and works with nonprofits to distribute its products.

  2. ComeBack Mobility

  Ukraine-based ComeBack Mobility is focused on make it easy for patient care teams to monitor progress throughout the entire rehabilitation process after sustaining a leg injury. The company offers a product called Smart Crutch Tips that measures how much weight a patient puts on their leg while they use crutches to move around. If the patient puts too much weight on their leg, the crutch tips provide instant feedback so that the patient can adjust accordingly. The crutch tips also come with an app where patients can track their weight-bearing progress. With this data, healthcare providers can advise the patient on the best rehabilitation plan so that they heal quickly and correctly. They can also send new rehab advice straight to the patient through the mobile app.

CEO Ilya Popov, the co-founder of ComeBack Mobility, was inspired to create this tool after going through his own injury. He raised the seed round of funding himself during the COVID-19 lockdown and recently gave an interview about maintaining a medical device startup during wartime.

  3. Proov

  Proov’s rapid response progesterone test strips were invented by Dr. Amy Beckley after she experienced three years of infertility, two rounds of IVF, and seven pregnancy losses. She found out her fertility issues were caused by low progesterone and created these test strips to help other women detect their progesterone levels so they could avoid the same issues and long diagnosis process she went through.

The FDA has authorized these tests, which provide women with information that would otherwise be available only through a blood test at their doctor's office. As of December 2021, the FemTech company had raised $9.7 million in Series A funding, according to Crunchbase.

  4. Senzo

  Senzo, a UK-based startup, is developing an amplified lateral flow (ALF) rapid antigen self-test for COVID-19, which the company says it has the same accuracy as PCR tests. In a recent blinded 3rd-party study, the tests were shown to have 100% accuracy. Senzo also has plans to apply the ALF system to other testing requirements in the future, so people around the world can get accuracy previously only found in laboratories.

In July 2022, the company announced a a Pre-Series A round of funding that "will be used to bring the Amplified Lateral Flow (ALF) COVID-19 at-home rapid test through regulatory approval and to market, increase manufacturing capabilities, and advance the development of a range of new tests to significantly improve the diagnosis of the world's most prevalent and deadly diseases."

  5. Polycarbin

  Life sciences use a lot of plastic, between syringes, DNA extraction kits, and more. In fact, over 12 billion pounds of scientific plastic waste is produced each year, according to Polycarbin, and its goal is to put a stop to that. Founded by two friends who left medical school to start the company, Polycarbin remanufactures laboratory equipment, such as pipette tips, from post-consumer lab plastic. The company helps labs reduce carbon emissions and also provides ways to recycle plastic waste. Its mobile app gives scientists data about reducing their waste, lets them schedule recycling pickup, and more. Labs can also order recycled equipment from Polycarbin. In January 2022, it raised $2 million in seed funding, per Crunchbase.

  6. ABLE Human Motion

  ABLE is a Barcelona-based medical device startup and the world’s first manufacturer of robotic exoskeletons, with a goal of improving quality of life for individuals with disabilities. The award-winning startup began by studying the human gait extensively to create a product that allows wheelchair users to stand up, walk, and sit down without any assistance. The battery-powered, 8 kg exoskeleton has parameters for smart device configurations, which can allow for remote monitoring by physical therapists and physicians.

The lower-body exoskeleton is the first home-use product for individuals with lower-limb paralysis. In mid-2021, they obtained ISO 13485 certification for the design, manufacturing, and sales of their exoskeleton. In July 2022, the company announced that their exoskeleton would be available commercially in Europe in 2023.

  7. Garwood Medical Devices

  Garwood Medical is an advanced MedTech startup based in Buffalo, NY, with a mission of improving clinical outcomes for infections and wound healing. Garwood’s products include the BioPrax™, a minimally invasive device designed to prevent biofilm infections on prosthetic knee implants by using electrodes to prevent microbe growth. It was granted Breakthrough Device designation by the FDA in 2019.

Garwood’s Series B round closed in late November 2019 at $3.7 million. These funds added to the September 2016 Series A round, which raised $3.6 million. “We appreciate the confidence and support from our existing and new investors,” says Garwood CEO Wayne Bacon. “Few people other than physicians and impacted patients understand the tremendous suffering and high treatment costs associated with [periprosthetic joint] infections, which strike tens of thousands of Americans per year [and cost] many billions of dollars.” The company plans on starting human clinical trials in 2023.

  8. Parasym Health

  Parasym is a UK-based medical device startup that provides neurostimulation products to improve the quality of life for patients with inflammatory disorders and chronic pain. Its first product uses micro pulses of electrical current to target the vagus nerve through an ear clip electrode. The Parasym Device is currently CE-marked and has been designated a non-significant risk (NSR) by the FDA.

Technical Doctor's insight:

Contact Details : [email protected] or 877-910-0004 www.technicaldr.com

[ampulove]

Amputee Geronimo, left above knee

#amputee #geronimo #lak #left above knee