M-STAR is an organization
that provides services to amputees, beyond prosthesis. Amputation is just
the beginning of a long and traumatic process and most people in society
do not understand this, nor do most of the people in the prosthetic industry.
When an amputation takes place not only is there surgical trauma but there
is psychological trauma, social trauma and financial trauma as well and
all of these problems must be dealt with if the amputee is going to survive
this experience.
There are many support groups set up for amputees to turn to ,but there
are very few that provide all of the above mentioned services to guide
the new amputee through the process of amputation and complete recovery
so that they may continue a dignified and productive life.
Prior to the amputation the prospective amputee is all alone with just
their fears and anticipation of the oncoming event, they are lost in the
shadow of, "what am I going to do now?", "how am I going
to support my family?", "how am I going to cope with this?"
and the list goes on and on.
It is a very scary feeling knowing that you are going to lose a limb and
life will never be the same again.
If you are an active person, that will come to a screeching halt, if you
are sports oriented, that will come to a halt as well. In reality, NOTHING
WILL BE THE SAME !
M-STAR has many goals in
mind, but the paramount goal is to provide services that will help the
amputee through the amputation process by providing the following services
at no cost to them:
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PRE-SURGICAL
SERVICES AND COUNSELING
(with the patient and family members) These services will
include: |
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Peer counseling
by a trained amputee |
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Literature that
explains the amputation process |
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Advice on financial
matters that are relevant to the situation |
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The assurance that
we are here for them now and after the amputation 24 hours a day
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POST SURGICAL
SERVICES AND COUNSELING
This service includes: |
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Guidance through
the Psychological Trauma, Social trauma and Financial Trauma. Such
as where to go for the needed help that M-ST AR cannot provide.
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Literature on the
care of the amputated limb as well as information on picking a prosthetist
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Help getting aftercare
services in the home |
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Help and guidance
in obtaining finances for the prosthesis, if needed Transportation
home, if needed
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Counseling and
Guidance in coping with the amputation and the grief process
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The assurance that we will be here to
help them after they leave the hospital and return to their home. |
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POST HOSPITAL
CARE
After the amputee leaves the hospital they are still faced
with many challenges and it is M-STAR's intention to continue to
provide the counseling and guidance and other help that they may
need. We will make home visits to continue counseling and guiding
them.
Some of the services that we provide are: |
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Follow-up visits
to their home to check up on their psychological status. Check-up
on their progress as far as their residual limb is concerned.
Check-up on their prosthesis status. |
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Counseling with
them and their families Guidance in contacting support groups Guidance
with physical therapy care. |
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Invite them to
a peer group meeting for more support and encourage them to be active
in a social setting and not vegetate at home. |
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The assurance that
we are here for them now and after the amputation 24 hours a day
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The above is just a start
for this support group. As finances and volunteers increase so will the
activities that will help the amputee become a more independent person
and more active in society and able to make a positive contribution to
their families lives as well as their own.
M-STAR is incorporated as
a non-profit corporation and is in the process of attaining a State of
Michigan 501(c)3 status. It is an Amputee peer support group to
aid those of us in society who have lost one or more limbs either through
traumatic or surgical amputation. M-STAR is set up for the good of the
public and not for private profit. It is a non-commercial endeavor to
aid amputees.
Many programs are available
to assist M-STAR from corporation donations to grants. Special annual
events to provide on going support for this organization. M-STAR
accepts donations from individuals as well.
The future of M-STAR looks very bright, (no pun intended) it looks bright
because it is NEEDED and if something is needed it will be around for
a longtime. There are thousands upon thousands of amputations performed
each year and all of these amputees will need support and M-STAR will
provide this support for them. It is M-STAR's intention to inform the
public in as many ways as possible about our services, from free non-profit
ads in the newspaper and other media to giving talks to as many organizations
as possible about the difficulties amputees face. It is our hope and ambition
to get as many corporations as possible to "adopt " M-STAR as
the charity they would like to support every year.
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