MidlandToday welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected] or via the website. Please include your full name, daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). MidlandToday received the following letter to the editor from The War Amps.
Dear Editor,
As we are now in the season of lawn maintenance and outdoor activities, I would like to remind everyone about the potential hazards associated with machinery such as lawn mowers, especially in the presence of children.
I was only two when an accident forever altered the course of my life. Innocently playing outside, I ventured too close to a moving lawn mower, unaware of the danger it posed. The operator was unaware of my presence and backed up, not realizing I had stumbled and fallen behind the lawn mower. I was rushed to the hospital where doctors had to amputate my right arm above the elbow and part of my left hand.
As a graduate of The War Amps Child Amputee (CHAMP) Program, I am advocating for safety measures around lawn mowers. I accept who I am today, but I wouldn’t want another child to go through what I did.
It’s important to recognize that accidents can occur in the blink of an eye, with lifelong consequences. By sharing my story and raising awareness, I hope to encourage greater caution and vigilance among parents, caregivers and communities alike.
Denise Swedlo,
The War Amps
