Doctor Raymond Gritton, the Medical Director of the Acute Rehabilitation Unit at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, is enthusiastic about and dedicated to the newly-formed Amputee Support Group. “It will be like a one-stop support group with health care professionals and peer support all in one place,” says Gritton.
A doctor, physical therapist, prosthetics specialist and psychologist will be some of the players in place for these meetings as well as the comforting support of fellow-amputees who know more than anyone else what the stages of change are for someone who is adjusting to the loss of an arm or a leg.
Individuals who have lost a limb due to surgical, traumatic or congenital disorders and are 18 years of age and older are welcome to join the group.
“The process is difficult psychologically and physically with regard to body image when someone loses an arm or a leg,” says Gritton, “It’s not just like you’re fitted with a prosthesis and go on with your life. It is a process. We’ve come a long way with the evolution of medicine. There are amputees these days that look and walk like able-bodied people. You’d never know they were wearing a prosthesis.”
Gritton says that with the proper care and support, the wear withal and a determined spirit, highly functioning amputee patients can play basketball, run and jump.
“They just need a nudge or a push,” says Gritton.
Alissa Myatt, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), will be one of the players on hand at the support meetings.
“Gritton is so knowledgeable about amputee care. He wants the patients to live at their highest quality of life and is good at giving them realistic goals they can shoot for,” says Myatt.
With a goal to regain independence, the Amputee Support Group, which is open to anyone in the community, not just Henry Mayo Newhall patients, is sure to set amputee patients down the right pathway.
A caregivers support group will also soon be forming at the hospital as well and will be meeting every other week.
The Amputee Support Group is associated with the Amputee Coalition of America. Meetings will be held at 11 a.m. on March 1, June 7, September 13 and December 6 at the Hospital’s ARU dining room, located in the Nursing Pavilion, 25727 McBean Parkway, Valencia, 91355.
For more information, call Alissa Myatt at 661-253-8521. See our calendar section for more group information on group meetings at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital.