Amputees jump for health care reform

By KEVIN KOLOIAN

After waiting to take flight on a gusty Saturday at the end of March, more than a 100 amputees' dreams were grounded by high winds in what would have been a Guinness World Record 160-person jump for a cause.

The purpose of the jump was to bring attention to the strain put on many amputees behind the cost of limbs. With modern artificial limbs costing upwards of $80,000, most health insurance companies provide only a fraction of the cost.

But Limbs of Love, a local nonprofit, hopes to change that.

Founded by Joe Sansone, who runs the Amputee and Prosthetic Center, located on FM 1960 between Ella Boulevard and Interstate 45, Limbs of Love is urging Congress to pass the Prosthetic Parity Act of 2008. The bill would require health care companies to provide prosthetic coverage for artificial limbs on par with Medicare.

Introduced by Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Daniel Inouye (D-HI) and Russell Feingold (D-WI), the bill is pending in the Texas Legislature, with 11 states already passing similar laws.

"We have active war heroes coming back missing their limbs who have garnered sympathy from the public, which has got the U.S. Army and government spending millions of dollars in research," said Sansone.

He explained that nearly 1.7 million Americans live with the absence or loss of a limb, many of whom are not covered for the suitable prosthetics, despite paying their health care coverage premiums.

The second annual jump at Skydive Spaceland was aimed at driving the message home about the health care reform issue.

Of the 35 who were able to wait out the weather and skydive the following day, 15 were Wounded Warriors who lost their limbs while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Dana Bowman, a U.S. Army paratrooper who lost both of his legs in a skydiving accident, started the two-day event by diving and then giving a motivational speech attended by more than 600 people.

Maxing out Skydive Spaceland's capacities, Sansone said, a new hangar will be completed in time for next year's event, allowing an even loftier showing of unity.

Sfc. Joe James was elated after touching down and seemed ready to go back in the plane and jump again.

"Every opportunity like this is a positive; it gives us a chance to do things I never thought possible - you finally feel normal again. Or maybe jumping out of a plane is a little abnormal," joked James.

Sansone said the unified skydive is an example of how prosthetics and the way the world views them have changed.

"These guys were jumping to show that they weren't going to let the lost of their limbs slow them down," he added. "Most of the Wounded Warriors are still in active duty. It's a way for them to exhibit their virility and show that they can still accomplish a lot of things."

LIMBS OF LOVE

To learn more about Limbs of Love or to donate funds or used artificial limbs, visit www.limbsoflove.com or call 713-747-7647.