War Amps provide assistance to local CHAMP

Times Reporter   

 

Recently Chelsea and Jason Sheppard and their 19-month-old son Colton attended the War Amps CHAMP seminar in Winnipeg. 

Colton was born missing part of both feet. Thanks to the War Amps and the Alberta Aids to Daily Living the Sheppards will not have to worry about providing prosthetic feet for their son. 

So far their benefits have covered most of the costs, and they haven’t had to rely too heavily on either War Amps or AADL, but knowing that no matter what that support is there is a huge relief to the couple. 

War Amps provides CHAMP families with financial assistance for artificial limbs, including the cost of recreational limbs so that the kids can stay active and keep up with their peers. A recreational limb, like a waterproof swim leg, for example, allows a child to swim, but also provides safety when walking on the beach or wet surfaces like the shower. 

“The financial assistance is very important as children outgrow their limbs like they do their clothes. CHAMP seminars provide a forum to share concerns and advice and learn about the latest developments in artificial limbs. The Matching Mothers Program matches new CHAMP families with experienced ones for ongoing advice and support,” said Carol Johnson with the War Amps. 

Because the child may be the only amputee in their school or community, CHAMP seminars provide the families with a unique opportunity for the parents to meet others who may be going through the same thing, and for the children to meet fellow amputees and know that they are not alone. 

“They learn about the latest developments in artificial limbs, and take part in a “show and tell” session where they gain confidence showing and talking about their amputation and artificial limb/ devices,” said Johnson.

“The ‘What Bugs Me’ session allows Champs to talk in an open-forum session about issues like teasing, staring and questions, and they receive advice from older Champs on how to handle these situations. Parents learn about raising an amputee child and have the opportunity to meet and talk to experienced parents as they go through the various stages of their child’s growth.” 

“What CHAMP’s has done for my husband is give him other dads who struggle with a lot of the same things,” said Sheppard. 

He has issues with the staring, and despite all of the work with CHAMP that will never go away. Summer time can be harder because Colton’s not wearing shorts or boots, meaning the prosthetic isn’t hidden. 

The swimming pool and the water park are two of the worst places for Sheppard, because a lot of people don’t go up and ask what happened, they just stare and assume. Sheppard said, she wants to share her story, and she feels that by sharing it will become more of a socially accepted thing.

She and her husband fear the day Colton goes to school and a teacher asks him to sit out because they don’t think he can participate. They want everyone to know he can do it, and will in his own way, it just may take some time. 

There are thousands of Canadian children who benefit from CHAMP, with approximately 100 new children being enrolled annually. 

“The War Amps does not receive government grants. CHAMP and all of The War Amps programs for Canadian amputees are funded by the public’s support of the Key Tag and Address Label Service,” said Johnson.

“Supporters of the Key Tag Service receive peace of mind in having their keys protected through a confidentially coded number, while at the same time supporting these vital programs for amputees.” 

Read the full story about Colton Sheppard and his family on page 6.