Celebrate differences during Limb Loss Awareness Month

It doesn’t come with a lot of shirts or ribbons but today, the Amputee Coalition launches its fifth year of Limb Loss Awareness Month. This year, the organization is looking to help prevent older adults from amputations by checking for possible circulatory problems in feet. It’s not the focus many families have when it comes to limb loss or limb differences. At the same time, the Lucky Fin Project is sharing a separate campaign this month for Limb Difference Awareness. The focus is to “celebrate, educate, support, unite.”

So is this all about semantics or can all people with amputations or congenital differences recognize this month together? Do we need different names or can we just take the time to celebrate everyone?

Last week, I asked Born Just Right readers what they think about the name “Limb Loss Awareness Month.” I recently realized the term “limb difference” sounds strange to some adult amputees when I was talking to an amputee page on Reddit. I honestly hadn’t even thought about it sounding strange. But the reaction gave me perspective. My feelings about the word “loss” are similar to how some people feel about “difference.” You may read this site because you are linked to the world of amputations or congenital difference. You may read this to celebrate all differences and only know the world of differently size limbs and prosthetics from this website. But I know we all can learn from each other. I wanted to hear what others think. Here’s a few perspectives:

“If loss is only defined by actually removing appendages, then, no loss doesn’t apply to me. But, if it encompasses the loss of normalcy, then I would agree that one overall group makes sense. I tend to lean towards the latter. I may not know life with ten fingers, but I remember my missing digits every time I struggle to hold a fork and cut meat, balance a cup of coffee while opening a door or have to stick my thumb in my yogurt to keep it from sliding across the table while I eat. Sometimes, I think we need to be able to say that we have a loss/limitation, etc. because there’s a bit of freedom in the admission. I’m not saying that to negate that we’re Born Just Right – just that my version of right has challenges unique to me and I think that those challenges could fairly be labeled as a loss to some extent.” – Christne McMinn

“You say tomato, I say Limb Difference. 😉 ” -John Wong

“I feel like we’re all in it together. Whether you are a congenital amputee, have ectrodactyly, symbrachydactyly, radial dysplasia… It’s a community. We all understand each other to some degree. Like a group of new moms. They all know what it’s like to have a baby, but each baby is different and unique.” -Jessica Barbary

Here’s a look at the full conversation:

I don’t really have answers. But I believe we can learn from each other, whatever we call this month. I hope I can spend time this month offering resources available to everyone – no matter how we came to understand this world that often includes therapies, prosthetics and incredible kindness and support.