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Elevate Your Voice
Limb Loss & Limb Difference Awareness Month

We're continuing our giveaway.

About LLLDAM

What is LLLDAM?

LLLDAM stands for Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month, started by the Amputee Coalition 13 years ago. April is designated as the month to raise awareness on limb loss and limb difference, using the color orange to represent the topic.

What's the difference?

Limb Loss: The loss of a limb. Amputation: the action of surgically cutting off a limb.

Limb Difference: The partial or complete absence of or malfunction of limbs (arms and legs).

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Education

How can we prevent limb loss?

Considering that the leading cause of amputations is due to vascular disease, the key to preventing amputation is to identify the risk factors. The leading cause of amputation is due to vascular disease like diabetes and peripheral arterial disease. Prevent vascular disease by eating a healthier diet and engaging in physical activity to maintain a healthy weight and keep blood pressure down. For those with vascular conditions, injury prevention and wound management is critical to avoid amputation.

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In an odd and unique way, limb loss has led me to where I am today. When I was a child, my father was in a bad motorcycle accident. After many failed attempts to salvage his leg, they decided to amputate. I watched go through the highs and lows of accepting his new life as an amputee. His struggles encouraged me to join the field and make it my mission to serve the amputee community. I am beyond thankful to work in the prosthetic industry and for a company that strives to better the lives of those with limb loss / limb differences."

Stephanie Horner
Stephanie Horner

Our cat, Blue, fell down a window well one summer and we were pretty sure he broke his leg. Once at the vet, we found out that he also had hip dysplasia. After surgery, we were told there was a good chance he would experience issues later on in life. Later came rather quickly, when a year after the surgery, Blue fell down a flight of stairs and broke his leg again. The vet tried to cast him for several weeks, after which we found out his leg wasn't healing at all. We were given the option to do another expensive surgery or amputation. Definitely not an easy decision, but the vet said he would be just fine on three legs plus there would be a good chance he would continue to have issues with his leg if we did not amputate. The first few weeks after surgery were a bit rough, but Blue is now living his best life running and jumping around even better than he was before. I had just started working at Ottobock when all this happened and although Blue is a cat and does not use a prosthetic, it made me realize even more how much of an impact we have with what we do here at Ottobock!"

Rebecca Bouwman
A cat with a broken leg

My life was transformed after suffering a traumatic amputation in 2008. After 20 years of reconstructive surgeries, I electively decided to have my right leg amputated below the knee. It was an incredibly difficult road to get to that point and the decision was not easy to make. It took a couple of months for my limb to heal before I received my first prosthesis, but once I received it, I took off!

Having gone through the prosthetic fitting process and volunteering at some adaptive sports events, my career interests changed to prosthetics. I worked first in the clinical setting, fitting persons with limb loss with prosthetic devices. There was always so much gratification in patient care because I instantly saw the affect I had on peoples' live, and and that was wonderful. After some time, I realized that my reach could go further if I were to step into an R&D Prosthetist role for Ottobock.

With a global reach, I don't get the instant gratification as before, but when I'm out in public and notice a person with amputation walking by on a device I helped design or validate, I have a huge sense of pride, and that's a reminder that I'm making a difference in the world!

Limb loss opened up the opportunity for me to participate in sports. While this racing is fun for me, the mentality of why I do them is less for me and more for my fellow amputees and adaptive athletes. I want to not only prove to them what we're capable of, but also to inspire them to join!"

Jeff Waldmuller
A group of athletes pose excitedly in anticipation for a marathon race
Involvement

Ways Ottobock is Celebrating LLLDAM

We never shy away from a reason to celebrate the limb difference community! From hosting local events to sharing stories, Ottobock leverages every opportunity to shine a light on limb loss and limb difference.

Lighting up Niagara Falls

With the collaboration of Niagara Parks, the iconic Niagara Falls that borders Canada and the United States, lit up orange in support of Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month. We are proud to play a small role in this event.

Elevate Your Voice

Advocate for the community

Ottobock is supporting LLLDAM through social media (use #LLLDAM), educational posts, events, and more throughout the month of April.

We're hosting a giveaway all month long, and the prizes change weekly.

  • Week 1: Ottobock USB Charging Adapter. Three lucky winners will be selected in the first week of April.

  • Week 2: June Adaptive Gift Card. We're giving away two gift cards to Canadian residents in the second week April.

  • Week 3: Yeti Gift Basket. Yeti's newest color launched in March is perfectly fitting for LLLDAM. One recipient will be selected for the third week of April.

Sign up to win!