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From: Marshall on 11 Sep 2007 17:34
Ellen and I recently celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary, Ellen is, the
most remarkable person I know.

I met Ellen in late 1995, we both belonged to an on-line chat group. This
chat group would meet in person once or twice a week at various clubs,
restaurants or sporting events.

The meeting that I first saw Ellen was at a restaurant / dance club. I
remember it vividly because her energy filled the room, that was what drew
me too her.

The next meeting the on-line group had was a road trip to Rosarito Mexico,
that Ellen and I both attended.

This trip to Rosarito was Ellen's first trip back to Mexico since her
accident that happened in Mexico in 1988, where she was hit head-on by a
drunk driver that had gotten on the freeway in the wrong direction. Because
of this accident, in three weeks time she became a divorced, disabled,
jobless, homeless, single parent of a 4 year old daughter.

On this road trip, I had appointed myself Ellen's Escort, and for the most
part, from that day forward, we have been side by side.

The head-on collision in Mexico, nearly killed her, and among many other
injuries, had crushed Ellen's left calcaneus (heel bone) the largest bone in
the foot, and one of the hardest in the human body.

After 16 years, and 17 surgeries on her left foot, in May of 2004, Ellen had
her left leg amputated below the knee.

It was hard for me to believe that after amputating someone's leg, the only
thing the hospital was concerned with was that Ellen was able to get out of
bed, and able to use a bathroom, before releasing her to go home, and to
this day, that is the only rehabilitation that Ellen has received from the
medical community.

Fortunately Ellen's Prosthetist told her about CAF Challenged Athletes
Foundation, It is the mission of CAF to provide opportunities and support to
people with physical disabilities so they can pursue active lifestyles
through physical fitness and competitive athletics. The Challenged Athletes
Foundation believes that involvement in sports at any level increases
self-esteem, encourages independence and enhances quality of life.

CAF sponsors clinics, that help people with physical disabilities,
participate in sports that able bodied people take for granted. For example,
when you go for a swim at the beach, you put on your swim suit, grab a towel
and head to the beach. When Ellen goes to the beach to swim, we have to
have at least one beach chair, so once on the beach she can sit down and
take off her prosthetic leg before entering the water, an extra towel to
wrap the prosthetic leg to keep sand out of vital parts, fresh water to wash
off her stump so she can put her prosthetic back on after her swim, a
special fin that goes on her stump that helps her swim in a straight line, a
set of crutches that can handle being used in sand and entering salt water,
before heading out to the beach, we check the tide and surf conditions
because it is very difficult to get out past large surf at high tide with
only one leg.

Ellen has attended CAF clinics for swimming, biking and gait training. Gait
training teaches amputees to weight shift, maintain prosthetic control and
utilize the pelvis & trunk correctly during walking.

Because of the lack of support from the medical community and insurance
companies, it would have been difficult, if not impossible for Ellen to lead
the active life style she now lives without the CAF clinics.

Ellen has learned so much that just last month, she lead a two hour CAF
Ocean Swim Clinic focused on ocean swimming for leg amputees.

On October 28, 2007, Ellen will be participating in the San Diego Triathlon
Challenge, a half-Ironman event. This Triathlon event is the primary
fundraiser for the Challenged Athletes Foundation. Ellen is on Team SCOPe2,
she will swim the 1.2 mile open ocean swim at La Jolla Cove, her goal is to
raise $2,000 for CAF.

Please support Ellen in her effort to raise funds for CAF, the following
link will take you to he donation page:
Ellen's Challenged Athletes Donation Page.

Ellen has been in several newspaper articles in the local San Clemente
newspapers, click on this text will take you to where you can read these
articles.


From: Marshall on 11 Sep 2007 17:45
Ooops, links don't work like that:

This first URL is to the above story, that has the links and pictures:
http://members.cox.net/ratzilla99/donate.htm


From: Moe Jones on 13 Sep 2007 12:00
Marshall wrote:
> Ooops, links don't work like that:
>
> This first URL is to the above story, that has the links and pictures:
> http://members.cox.net/ratzilla99/donate.htm

Sounds like you are a happy man!
--
Moe Jones
HVAC Service Technician
Energy Equalizers Inc.
Houston, Texas
www.EnergyEqualizers.com


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