#Prosthetic Limb

[halfpintpeach]

Thinking about Professor Neil again got to the park on a picnic with Andrew, Kate, Aaron, and their two girls 😭 Neil takes Duke off harness so she's not working and she goes and plays with the girls while the adults sit on a blanket under a tree (Andrew requires shade).

They have stupid cute sandwiches because Katelyn has been in a pintrest mood and wants to try them all! Neil watching the joggers on the path and mentioning that he should have worn his running blade rather than his normal leg (not good to just walk in them, made for running!).

And so Andrew promises they can come back and Neil can run with his blade on the path.

I have feelings and emotions about this silly (very important to me) AU

[canon-disabled-characters]

Malenia from Elden Ring is blind, an amputee, prosthetic limb user, and has a chronic illness.

[thedisabilitybookarchive]

'Nimona'- Stevenson, N. D.

Disability Rep: Amputee, Prosthetic Arm

Genre: Science Fantasy

Age: Young Adult

Setting: Fictional: Fantasy Kingdom

Additional Rep: Genderfluid/Queer MC, Gay

For more information on summaries, content warnings and additional tropes, see here:

[goblinhellion]

Working on a couple of goblin adventurer adoptables! I started these a while ago - maybe one day I'll finish them :> aaaaaaa.

Is there any interest in dnd/ttrpg adoptables here? I love making characters!

[mildew-mop]

Guy with a prosthetic leg in a fantasy setting who thinks he has the upper hand (or rather leg) when he goes to kick someone in the nuts, but upon impact, he realizes his mistake because that guy is a trans guy and he's got a fucking titanium cock down there and he's been waiting for this opportunity.

[michaeldrawrrett]

AIN'T it just the worst when you're swotting up on the latest Magick Spells and one of the Arcane Diodes in your Magitek Prosthesis bursts, showering the room with tiny lightning elementals and giving the other Witches a little fright, hashtag Relatable

[charissekenion]

Newsletter #59: Why the Savage X Fenty show is necessary viewing

One morning I recorded a podcast episode dedicated to the Savage Fenty show, discussing its importance and several of the beauty looks we saw in Volumes 1-3 and later that evening the news of Rihanna apparently booking actor Johnny Depp for the show came out. Full disclosure: I am not attached to the Johnny Vs Amber story because it looked like an absolute sh*t show - whether that was in Johnny’s bed, who knows. But yeah, basically it just looked like a bunch of people shouting at another bunch of people. All I can say is, perhaps, as a fellow alleged victim of domestic abuse, Rihanna wanted to prove a point with hiring Johnny. Or perhaps it’s just a case of controversy making for good viewing.

Either way - I’m not addressing that part in this newsletter.

Savage Fenty launched in 2018, and held its first fashion show that same year, before broadcasting Vol. 1, the televised show, in 2019. Since its launch it has influenced pretty much everyone and everything – base line, it’s definitely changed the way many brands choose to market to us.

I feel that today, the show gives us an inspired and evolved take on the Victoria’s Secret Show. That started in 1995 and ended in 2018 and much like Savage Fenty, it was a televised fashion show aimed at making sales, but, although, at one time it was seen as the sexiest show on earth, eventually we realised it only ever objectified one body type, one gender type playing very traditional gender roles and there was a very limited array of skin tones, and zero body diversity. Add to that frequent criticism over costumes that bordered on cultural appropriation, and all this in a post #MeToo era, and it’s clear, the world does not want another Victoria’s Secret show.

From the very first show, Rihanna said she was looking for unique characteristics from people who aren’t usually highlighted in the world of fashion. She intended for diversity to be celebrated, something she’s always maintained with Fenty Beauty too.

In a world where you can listen to a podcast featuring a male casting agent telling two young women that he thinks all women should be skinny but have boobs and an ass - the same world that’s supposedly become so body positive, I think the Fenty show is pretty much essential viewing - for anyone in the fashion or entertainment industry, but also anyone who has ever felt less than perfect when it comes to their body or their looks.

Aside from all of the above, I think the Savage Fenty show is Rihanna’s way of reminding the fashion and beauty industries of just how much she’s done and how relevant she is, aside from her music. She’s often the butt of jokes when it comes to her music and we’ve already seen memes mocking her more curvy shape post-baby and poking fun at whether she’ll actually sing live, while dancing, when she performs at the Super Bowl in February. I don’t know what drives her, but by focusing on beauty and fashion that makes every body feel included, she has absolutely secured herself a place of immense relevance to culture at large. I feel the show itself is almost like a service Rihanna provides to make us all love ourselves a little bit more.

As well as the Savage X Fenty special episode (#149 anywhere you like to listen) I also recorded my review of the Volume 4 show, which you can listen to below.

[griffinhealthcare]

At our prosthetic care center, we understand the challenges that come with losing a prosthetic limb, and we are here to help you overcome them. Our team of experts provides compassionate care and personalized attention to ensure that you receive the right type of prosthetic services for your needs and that it fits properly. 

[artalives-blog]

World Mental Health Day: The Emotional Consequences of Limb Loss in Diabetes

World Mental Health Day, observed on October 10th each year, serves as a crucial reminder of the intersection between physical and mental health. This year, we focus on a particularly challenging aspect of this intersection: the mental impact of losing a limb, a situation that many individuals with diabetes face. In this context, Artalive Malaysia plays a pivotal role in providing support and prosthetic solutions that can significantly improve the lives of those affected.

Diabetes and the Risk of Limb Loss

Diabetes, a chronic condition that affects how your body processes glucose, can lead to a range of complications if not well managed. One such complication is peripheral neuropathy, which causes nerve damage in the extremities. Over time, peripheral neuropathy can result in the loss of sensation in the feet, making individuals with diabetes more susceptible to injuries and infections. If left untreated, these complications can ultimately lead to the amputation of a limb.

The physical toll of losing a limb is evident, but the mental impact is equally profound. The emotional and psychological consequences of limb loss can be overwhelming. It’s essential to recognize and address these effects, as they can significantly influence a person’s overall well-being.

The Mental Impact of Losing a Limb

The loss of a limb can evoke a spectrum of emotions, from grief and anger to frustration and anxiety. These feelings are entirely natural and should not be dismissed. The process of adapting to life with a prosthetic limb can be challenging both mentally and emotionally.

Individuals may experience a sense of loss, not only for their physical limb but also for the activities and experiences they once took for granted. This emotional burden can lead to depression, anxiety, and a loss of self-esteem. Coping with these feelings is a critical aspect of rehabilitation and recovery.

Artalive Malaysia: A Beacon of Hope

Artalive Malaysia recognizes the complex and interconnected nature of diabetes and limb loss. Their specialized approach to prosthetic limb care encompasses not just the physical aspects but the emotional well-being of their patients. Through a combination of medical expertise, compassionate care, and advanced prosthetic solutions, they empower individuals to overcome the mental challenges associated with limb loss.

Artalive’s commitment to holistic care includes psychological support, counseling, and group therapy for those navigating the emotional terrain of limb loss. They create an environment where patients can share their experiences, seek guidance, and build a network of support. This compassionate approach significantly contributes to the mental well-being of their patients.

Prosthetic Limbs: A Path to Renewed Independence

Prosthetic limbs, commonly referred to as artificial limbs, have undergone substantial advancements. They now offer improved mobility, functionality, and comfort. Artalive Malaysia leverages these innovations to help individuals regain their independence and self-confidence.

Custom-made prosthetic limbs are tailored to an individual’s specific needs, allowing them to resume their daily activities and even engage in sports and recreational pursuits. By providing a sense of normalcy and enabling individuals to lead fulfilling lives, prosthetic limbs play a vital role in the mental and emotional recovery process.

Conclusion: The Connection Between Diabetes, Limb Loss, and Mental Health

On World Mental Health Day, we must acknowledge the profound emotional and psychological challenges faced by individuals dealing with the loss of a limb due to diabetes. The mental impact of limb loss is a vital aspect of overall well-being, and it cannot be overlooked.

Artalive Malaysia‘s dedication to addressing these mental health challenges through their holistic prosthetic care is commendable. By providing physical and emotional support, they empower individuals to navigate the difficult journey of limb loss with resilience and hope.

As we continue to raise awareness about mental health and its connection to physical well-being, it’s essential to remember that individuals facing the emotional toll of limb loss due to diabetes deserve our support, understanding and access to the best prosthetic solutions available. Together, we can help them regain their independence, confidence and ultimately, their quality of life.

CONTACT INFO:

Visit us: https://artalive.com.my/ Address: No 16, Persiaran 65C, Pekeliling Business Centre, Off Jalan Pahang Barat, 53000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia E-Mail: info@artalive.com.my Contact: +60 3–4032 4273

[katy-l-wood]

Every few years I remember that the Alternative Limb Project exists and get blown away once more by their work.

This one is half hyper-realistic, and half swapable sections based on the woman's personality, moods, and spirituality.

This one comes with a DRONE and has control panels in the wrist and forearm, as well as a flashlight and laser pointer.

This one is older, from 2012, but I still love it. Shiny shiny.

This one has a WORKING CUCKOO CLOCK IN THE KNEE. A WORKING. CUCKOO CLOCK.

Another older one, this one with realistic snake.

This is a two part one, dedicated to railway workers/builders/passengers who lost limbs. The limbs can be hooked together to allow the little train to travel between them.

This one is a literal swiss army knife arm, full of survival supplies.

Just. GAH. They are all so neat.

The project was started by Sophie de Oliveira Barata and you really have to check out her work: https://thealternativelimbproject.com/

[halfpintpeach]

But BLAST it is all Math related puzzles and you skipped out on your last session with MATH TUTOR NEIL Josten because the blond guy from the Exy team looked like he would stab you if you interrupted his time with him. - @jtl-fics

Tutor Neil || WIP Wednesday 10/11/23 (closed)

It wasn't even a lie. He was busy most evenings whether he liked it or not. Most of the time he was juggling his own course assignments and building lessons for his tutoring sessions. When it wasn't school related it was Babe Ruth. They went on a long evening walk at the same time every night around their apartment complex. There was a small dog park where Neil would throw a ball a few times to wear off any excess energy. If he had free time it was usually spent in the gym of his apartment. Stuart had had Neil fitted for a running blade over the summer and Neil had spent all his free time on the treadmill since. Still, there was the looming memories of a large black building and small court shoes scuffing the polished floor. Sometimes he could watch games, but far too often for his liking his mind took a walk down a bloody memory lane.

[canon-disabled-characters]

Booster Gold (Michael Carter) from DC Comics has PTSD, is an amputee and a prosthetic limb user

[thedisabilitybookarchive]

'Long Macchiatos and Monsters'- Evans, Alison

Disability Rep: Prosthetic Leg, Disfigured Hand

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Short Story

Age: New Adult, Young Adult

Setting: Australia

Additional Rep: Transgender, Genderqueer, POC

For more information on summaries, content warnings and additional tropes, see here:

[2001hz]

Sophie de Oliveira Barata: ' The Alternative Limb Project' (2014)

[zegalba]

Sophie de Oliveira Barata: The Alternative Limb Project (2014)

[tangents-within-tangents]

Thoughts on Echo as amputee/disability representation

First and foremost, I am not disabled or an amputee and I don’t claim to speak for those communities (and if I was I couldn't speak for everyone). What little I do know mostly comes from this youtube channel (@oakwyrm), this post, and other research I’ve done for my writing (and like one amputee I kinda knew in passing). By all means correct me and add to the conversation, I just have some thoughts I want to share because I haven’t really seen this discussed anywhere

Overview

So Echo is interesting. He is a triple amputee which is pretty rare in media. His disabilities come from extremely traumatic circumstances: injured in a near-death experience, imprisoned and dehumanized as an experiment with no autonomy over what happened to his body.

There are a few moments in the shows where Echo is treated… questionably. Like this bit where Rex uses him as an example of the Separatists' evils to convince the locals to fight back:

To be fair, yeah Echo’s treatment does prove that the Techno Union is not neutral like they claim. The modifications that everyone is gasping in horror at here obviously weren’t made with comfort and accessibility in mind, nor with Echo’s consent. But you still just want to be sure that “They took away his freedom, his humanity, they tried to turn him into a machine” is about using him as a living computer, not the fact that he is missing limbs. 

The Batch is also pretty insensitive toward him and his trauma imo, which is weird considering they've supposedly also faced discrimination for their mutations

Disabled people do have to deal with stuff like this in this day and age so I guess it can speak to those experiences. I think especially him being mistaken as a droid (and Hunter going along with it (bruh)) might resonate with some people. 

Aside from that stuff, Echo isn't really treated any differently as a character/person which is really good (as low of a bar as that is).

We get this moment in CW where Echo contemplates that yeah things are gonna be different now

While also (imo at least) showing that he is still the same person regardless, evidenced by the fact that he just echoed Rex :,) I also think it's significant that he joins the Bad Batch on his own terms and we're given a really emotional scene to specifically show that he's not just like 'lumped in with the other misfits' but that it is his choice to go where he feels his place is.

A lot of people, myself included, are disappointed that TBB didn't have more time to explore Echo's PTSD, but I think the one panic attack scene we did get is really good. Even thought it's minor it at least is an appropriate reaction from a guy who was medically tortured (which is more than I've come to expect from Star Wars shows lol)

And it's really sweet to see Omega showing Echo some empathy and consideration.

It would have been nice to see more of his adjustment period, and other side effects like chronic pain and maintenance, but there’s a lot of daily life stuff the show never had time for (i.e. we don’t know if he removed his prosthetics to sleep, but we also never saw him sleep anyway). His disabilities might take on a background role (much like the character himself sadly) but for the most part they aren’t invisible or erased, nor do they define his character and arc.

Physical Appearance

Okay this one is bit dicey, bc on the one hand, yes complaints that Echo’s paleness (most likely caused by burns from the explosion or chemical burns from the cryo-chamber) is whitewashing are totally valid. But I also think you can draw comparisons to real life conditions that affect pigmentation/complexion (like you know burns). So while I understand why a lot of fanart will depict him with his original skin tone and with hair, consider that there are real people who have to live with temporary or permanent changes to their appearance, and the idea of “fixing" him by making him look more like his old self can be problematic.

It's also interesting to note that Echo could act as a reversal of the 'disabled/disfigured = evil' trope. He's pale and bald and wears black and red, which is so often visually associated with villains, but we all know Echo is the bestest boy™

The Headpiece

Echo’s headpiece is interesting because within the show we don’t actually ever learn much about it (idk if there is more info in books or whatever bc i don’t have them so?). He didn’t have it in CW so we know it didn’t come from the Techno Union and therefore Echo probably had more choice with it. We don’t know its exact purpose but it’s most likely related to his scomping abilities. When he is hacking with his scomp in CW, before he has his headpiece, it’s clearly very mentally straining:

We don’t see him struggling like this in TBB once he does have it (though that could be bc he got more used to it over time). There doesn't seem to be much of an impact when he removes his headpiece in s3 ep14-15, except that he gets stuck in the ports every time he uses his scomp which is not something we’ve seen before: 

There might not be an exact real-world equivalent, but the headpiece is some kind of accessibility aid. It means that someone specifically designed a device to help him adapt to the changes the Techno Union made, as well as a helmet that integrates it. It’s removable and visually very present, much like a cochlear implant would be. (A lot of people actually headcanon it to act partially as a hearing aid, since it makes sense that Echo’s hearing would have been damaged in the explosion, but there isn't really any indication of this in canon.) The headpiece is never really acknowledged in the show, but I think that's a good thing. It's something he needs/wants and it just exists, completely normalized, and that's pretty cool 👍

Legs

Sigh... So from the very first episode of TBB I was really disappointed that the animation team or whoever completely visually erased Echo’s prosthetic legs (I think we all were, honestly, if fanart is anything to go by). It’s one thing when he’s in armor because he would probably want to protect his prosthetics, but we literally see him in his blacks and there is no indication whatsoever that he lost his legs even though it was not left up for debate at all in CW:

Like ??????!?

This is just really strange to me! Idk what went on behind the scenes with this decision but I don’t really see why it would be that much harder to animate or anything since it’s 3D and they've done it before. We do see some pretty sophisticated cybernetic technology in Star Wars canon that mimics real limbs:

But Luke’s fancy hand is technically 20ish years from now, so Anakin and Maul are more of a representation of what level we could expect here

So yeah, for no apparent reason, his leg amputation is effectively, visually and narratively nonexistent. Which is not great 👎

Arm!

The scomp on the other hand (uh lol!) is the complete opposite and I kinda love it!

At first I, like many others, thought it was a bit odd that they didn’t give Echo a prosthetic arm. Losing hands is basically a Star Wars tradition at this point, so robotic arms/hands are well established within the worldbuilding: 

We aren’t necessarily given a canon reason for why Echo doesn't get a cybernetic arm (again unless it's in some lore book I haven’t read, sorry). General fanon explanations I’ve seen are that he either couldn’t because the Techno Union wired the scomp too far into his nervous system, and/or the resources to give him one were deemed too expensive for a clone (what about his legs tho?), or that he chose not to, usually because he thought the scomping was useful. 

Regardless, I actually really love this choice (and it's the whole reason I made this post), because here's the thing: There’s a lot of problematic tropes out there that either erase/cure disabilities or compensate them with perks (like how pretty much any blind character is actually not blind by some sort of magic power). With amputees that is done with robotic arms. The character is still an amputee or course, and there is still value in that representation, if this story from Mark Hamill that makes me tear up is anything to go by:

but for the most part these characters function like anyone else, just with a limb that looks a little different. It’s no more than a video game skin, an able-bodied actor with a green screen glove. It “cures” the disability, or it actually makes the character even stronger than usual: 

It usually makes sense within the world of the story, but the reason it’s not so great in my opinion is that in the real world we just do not have technology anywhere close to that yet. Prosthetics can more or less replace any mobility from lost legs, but not for all the complexities of a hand (and even if they could the average person wouldn’t be able to afford it).

So

I think it's actually really super cool that Echo’s scomp bypasses the canonically-established amputee erasure and functions much like a stump would irl. He integrates it into his movements and everyday life and it’s (as far as I know) a lot closer to an everyday amputee’s experience. 

It doesn’t define his character, it doesn’t hold him back, he lives a full life, the other’s don’t treat him any differently, and he’s still a total karking badass 

The only additional thing is that he sometimes uses it as a weapon (which given his story, I think it’s cool to see him taking back autonomy in a way, and we only see that like twice)

And also the scomping, which could be seen as the 'added/compensating superpower' trope. But narratively it's no different than if he was plugging in with a hacking gadget of some kind (he didn't necessarily "need" to lose his arm for it) and it’s not like Echo is completely defined by this skill. Personally, I think it's well worth the positives of him actually having a visible and realistically impactful amputation. 

I see a lot of posts or comments out there that say stuff like “how come Echo doesn’t get a hand?” or fanworks that do give him one and I just think it’s a bit of a shame. If he did get a robotic hand, it just would have disappeared the same way his legs and Anakin’s arm did (aside from that one time he got yoinked by a magnet). When Echo did “get a hand” in the last two episodes there were comments like “yay he finally got a hand! but it doesn’t even work” but I was actually so relieved that it didn’t! Bc for one thing that wouldn’t make any sense, he grabbed it off a droid, it wasn’t designed to implement with his scomp, that would be really complicated. But more importantly because it again refused to erase/cure his disability! It functioned like a real-world cosmetic prosthetic (useless beyond appearance) which is exactly what he needed it for, so that he could blend in better with his disguise.

And he continually took it off throughout the episode and ditched it at the end. He only used it for the necessity of a stealth mission, he doesn’t feel the need to visually “fit in” in his daily life. 

And, last but very much not least, he made a dad joke and from my intel that is very accurate representation!

TLDR: Echo’s scomp is actually really cool from an amputee representation perspective, especially within Star Wars, and I think that deserves some appreciation