Support from The War Amps has started at an early age for a Prince George girl.
Clare McNamara is just two years old but her and her mother were recently in Richmond for a provincial child amputee (CHAMP) program seminar and met a role model.
McNamara was born a right-arm amputee and Sara LaBelle, 21, of Vancouver is a right-leg amputee. Labelle is also a junior counsellor coordinator and oversees a team of older Champs who act as role models and offer advice to younger Champs.
"The seminars are very informative, but one of the best parts is that Clare gets to meet other amputees," said McNamara's mother, Karissa. "It's comforting to know that as she gets older, there are people, like Sara, who will be there to guide her and offer support."
At the seminars, young amputees and their parents learn about the latest in artificial limbs, dealing with teasing and staring and parenting an amputee child. The seminar is also an opportunity for child amputees and their families to connect and share similar experiences about living with amputation.
"Seminars are a powerful experience, as Champs and parents learn they are not alone," said Danita Chisholm, executive director of The War Amps' CHAMP program. "Thanks to the public's support of the key tag and address label service, we are able to bring young amputees like Clare and Sara together as well as provide financial assistance for the cost of artificial limbs."
