On March 9th, Tina Hurley, Board Certified Physician Associate, adaptive educator, speaker and below-the-knee amputee, addressed the Rotary Club of Nashua regarding, Less Leg More Heart, committed to spreading hope and decreasing suffering for amputees. “Rise by Lifting Others” is the tagline for Less Leg, More Heart a non-profit that helps people that have lost limbs.
Tina Hurley gave us an inspiring summary of her career prior to her amputation and her work after. She was raised in a blue-collar family and was very athletic prior to her limb loss. In fact, she was working as a surgical nurse when they made the diagnoses of vascular disorder that caused restriction of blood flow in her legs. After multiple surgeries in 2014 surgery to try to free up flow she had to undergo an amputation in 2016 where they removed her left leg below knee. As you can imagine, this resulted in a tremendous change in her life. She decided to re-align her career with helping others who had lost limbs. She founded, “Less Leg More Heart.
Each year Limb Loss affects 185,000 people. They forecast there will be 3.6 million living with limb loss by 2050. There are 507 people each day that lose a limb.
The cost for a new technology prothesis is $80-100K. There are many other challenges for those missing limbs besides the cost of the prosthetic. There are many types of challenges – limited insurance coverage; finding work, adapting socially, depression, isolation, fear, anger, anxiety.
Needs for education, social support and mentorship. There is a need for many other specialized types of support.
The Mission of Less Leg More Heart is to provide support, supplies and services to improve the quality of life to amputees and their support systems during life changing medical circumstances.
This is done by providing medical advocacy, education and mentorship, fund for holistic care/ care packages, funding for home services and modification (the 4 pillars of assistance)
Programs within Less Leg More Heart
HELPS – Handicap Education, Learning and Peer Support
HOPE – Holistic Optimization & Pursuit of Equity
HEARTS – Help Every Amputee Realize Their Strength
HOME – Home Outfitting, Modification & Enhancement
Important to do big intake at beginning to customize needed services (medical, psych, social, financial)
2025 Impact/Stats – 103 new amputees helped, 250 recurring amputees helped, 6500+ volunteer hours, $275,000 Operating budget
Upcoming events or to volunteer or donate - details on website www.lesslegmoreheart.com
Jennifer Hurley running first road race in a long time. The Shamrock Shuffle
Fire truck pull, Sunday, May 31,
Wild West Gala, Friday, October 16