Help needed - please read

[DeepSeaDan]

Greetings all,

DSD here. In addition to my duties as a full-time Firefighter, I assist in the teaching of a firefighting program at a local community college.

It was just reported to me that a student enrolled in this year's program was in an automobile accident a few days past. He suffered severe injury to an arm, & as a result, the arm had to be amputated above the elbow.

This 19 year-old guy, in addtion to being an enthusiastic firefighting student, is an avid diver. I am told he is absolutely despondent, & believes there is no future for him. They have him on suicide watch.

Does anyone aboard have information relating to amputee divers? I was hoping to pass on to him some stories of folks who overcame the same, or similar disabilities, & went on to lead a productive & happy life.

Your assistance will be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
DSD

 

[Teamcasa]

Show him this
SUDS Diving > Welcome to SUDS

 

[Kern]

At one of my LDS there is a chap who lost his left arm at the shoulder in a motor cycle accident. He's the shop bitch, he fills tanks, organises the SI meal break, cleans the boat, helps the punters organise their gear & loads it onto the boat. He's currently doing his DM & boat master certificates through the shop. He is as competent as most & more so than some & he enjoys his life as much as any human can expect.

I'v dived with him many times, he may need a hand from time to time but basically he has learnt to adapt, adjust & overcome. He obviously would prefer that he hadn't lost the arm, but it wasn't the end for him.

PS. Ladies don't seem to mind too much either.

 

[DeepSeaDan]

Show him this
SUDS Diving > Welcome to SUDS

Excellent resource, thank you.

DSD

 

[DeepSeaDan]

At one of my LDS there is a chap who lost his left arm at the shoulder in a motor cycle accident. He's the shop bitch, he fills tanks, organises the SI meal break, cleans the boat, helps the punters organise their gear & loads it onto the boat. He's currently doing his DM & boat master certificates through the shop. He is as competent as most & more so than some & he enjoys his life as much as any human can expect.

I'v dived with him many times, he may need a hand from time to time but basically he has learnt to adapt, adjust & overcome. He obviously would prefer that he hadn't lost the arm, but it wasn't the end for him.

PS. Ladies don't seem to mind too much either.

Thanks for that, Kern.

DSD

 

[FF-EMT Diver]

Hello, My sympathy to him, Also very nice of you to care enough to ask, I don't have much but Pasley can prob. really help he was talking about going thru a course by Handicap scuba association, I'm sorry haven't figured out how to put a link on here to it.

 

[TSandM]

Dan, you might put him in touch with Michael Whities. Michael had his left arm amputated (above the elbow, I believe) and is an avid diver and a cheerful and enthusiastic man. I'm sure he'd be more than happy to provide moral support for this fellow.

 

[DeepSeaDan]

Dan, you might put him in touch with Michael Whities. Michael had his left arm amputated (above the elbow, I believe) and is an avid diver and a cheerful and enthusiastic man. I'm sure he'd be more than happy to provide moral support for this fellow.

...you & Vladimir have suggested this so I've just fired off a p.m. to him...

Thanks again.

Dan

 

[Missdirected]

TS&M and Teamcasa both gave suggestions I would have made.

HowardE, got to know some of the SUDS divers personally. You may want to contact him and see if he can put you in touch with somebody that may be interested in chatting with this fella :ne_nau: Worth a try.

I hope this guy takes a moment to open his eyes, get in touch with the people from the above suggestions, and see life is by no means over.

Good luck.

 

[HowardE]

Also - you can PM the user -> [user]DiveHeart[/user] or check out their website The DiveHeart Foundation - Home