Miracle Limbs is the ONLY non-profit in the US that supports amputees in all areas needed—not just providing a limb. With the growing number of American vets returning home as limb loss victims, the spike in amputations due to the rapid increase of diabetic amputations, limb loss due to cancer, accidents, and childbirth limb deficiencies, the need far exceeds our funding abilities. Since our program began, our clients have doubled every year by word of mouth alone. Today we serve an average of 20 amputees at any one point from Southwest Florida alone, while continuing to stay active with all previous recipients. With proper funding, we can reach out and locate many more.
In the United States, there are approximately 1.9 million people living with limb loss. It is estimated that one out of every 200 people in the U.S. has had an amputation. 35% of our wounded warriors are currently returning with limb loss, the highest percentage since the Civil War. About one in every 2,000 newborn babies will have some form of limb deficiency. Every week over 3000 people lose a limb in the U.S.A. Approximately 353 Americans a day lose a limb to diabetes alone. 75% of amputees said they received NO educational materials from the medical providers. Of the 43% who did receive materials, only 15-20% of the available materials and services were considered helpful. (Amputee Coalition of America )
TO PROVIDE OUR SERVICES, we continue to expand our work with local, national, and regional private, public and federal hospitals, doctors, prosthetics manufacturers, and counselors to provide a seamless continuum of service opportunities that make navigating the medical system easier and kinder. Our networks are ready as soon as we receive the needed funding.
STRATEGIC PLAN The Miracle Limbs-Courage in Motion core leadership went through a professionally facilitated strategic planning process, under the aegis of the Community Foundation of Collier County which resulted in a clear and detailed path for the organization to follow moving towards reasonable, pragmatic, and responsible goals.
- Build a strong committed Board of Directors, to ensure the organization remains fiscally sound.
- Create a high-quality service delivery plan for clients Increase the volunteer base to include medical and social services professionals
- Solidify relationships with existing providers, while developing and expanding the network
- Increase funding in order to continually increase the number of clients and locations served. We have been successful in reaching these goals, and are now into Phase 2, developing broader medical, counseling, and funding resources and adding specific help for veteran amputees at Walter Reed. We have created a Volunteer Steering Committee assigned to all aspects of network development not only in South Florida but initializing contacts in broader regions.