=================================================   AMPUTATION ONLINE MAGAZINE   SEPTEMBER 15, 2001   Volume 6 Issue No.5   =================================================   AOLM is sponsored by   Springlite http://www.springlite.com   Cascade Orthopedic http://www.prosthecare.com   Ossur http://www.ossur.com     Please visit our sponsors web sites   ------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------   CONTENTS   POV - Editorial - Sooner or Later the Pain must stop   NOMINATIONS for 2001 AOLM Annual Awards   BUSINESS Hanger Orthopedic Group, Inc. Announces Second Quarter Operating Results OTTO BOCK ACQUIRES SPRINGLITE Mr. Kyle Stephens 2001 Pinnacle Award Recipient     AROUND THE WORLD Shark Attacks - Media Frenzy or Shark Frenzy ? Help for Ian Stillman in India South African Blast Survivors Tell their Story Indiscriminate Bombing Amputates the Innocent Stab victim has leg amputated to save life Peter Castro on Paul McCartney's engagement Hand amputation in Nigeria     GENERAL DISABILITY DOCTORS GREW PENIS ON GUY'S ARM   SPORTS BLESMA Watch Out Results in Fastnet 2001     ------------------------------------------------------------     POV - Point of View   Sooner or Later The Pain Must Stop   Writers far more talented and far more personally connected than I have already expressed themselves over this weeks terrible events in New York, Washington DC and Pennsylvania. These acts of barbarism have caused the world to go in to shock, of which it will take many years to recover.   Some of the more gruesome reports included the finding of 37 body parts and the double amputation of one victims legs to remove him from his incarceration. The emotional trauma experienced by all directly from the event is yet to be calculated.   Yet, as I write this there are calls for retaliation - a "do unto others as they do unto you" reaction. Yes, thousands of innocent people are dead, do we really need thousands more added to that list ? The death and destruction that could spiral up from this recent event could cause the death toll in the USA to look like a mere drop in the bucket, especially if retaliations escalates from all sides.   Should NATO go in to Afghanistan and root out Osama Bid Laden ? Surely, the problem is more systemic and more prevalent than the elimination of one man ? All reports say yes ! An extensive report on PBS tonight showed that Bin Laden is but one of thousands of militant Muslims that object to American and other western nations foreign policy in regard to their own sovereignty. Surely, if the shoe was on the other foot and we had a Saudi or other foreign military presence in our country we would want them out as soon as possible. But the issues are far more wide ranging and far reaching.   Most of us have no idea what it is like to be without. Some of us maybe poor or have been unemployed, but we have some level of support structures within our societies that [theoretically] act as some level of safety net. Some fall through in to destitution but very few of us fall in to immeasurable acts of violence. Yet we see people of many nations without the smallest of social safety nets and who are also repressed by governments, who apparently have no were else to turn. What kind of society creates the need to kill thousands of innocent people ? What kind of society amputates the limbs of even the most petty thieves ?   Regardless of the direction the retaliatory actions taken, more blood will be spilled, many new amputees will be created and many people will suffer emotional trauma. We have not yet developed the skills as a planet to "turn the other cheek". We have not found a way of ending the circle of violence that perpetuates throughout our societies - we really, really want to and we really, really try hard to do so. It seems we are naturally prone to violence as we are naturally prone to caring and loving - if only there was more of the latter and less of the former.   The circle must be broken, if we are to survive as a planet.   IG   ------------------------------------------------------------     NOMINATIONS for AOLM Annual Awards   The 2001 Amputation Online Magazine Awards are set to be announced in the November edition. The AOLM Awards are an annual award program designed to highlight new and innovative services, products and support resources for amputees.   The popularity of the AOLM award program has increased dramatically over the years.   Once the nominations are counted the companies, services or support resources will be contacted to see if they wanted the nomination to stand.   The categories are:   Best Commercial WEB Presence Best Knee Unit Non Profit Support Group Best Supplemental Product Best Technological Advance for Practioners Best Upper Limb Innovation Best Shock Pylon Best Support Site Lower Limb Innovation Best Foot Honourable Mention   To nominate your favourite product, service or group please go to the web site at http://amputee-online.com/awards01   ------------------------------------------------------------     BUSINESS   Wednesday August 15, 8:36 am Eastern Time   Press Release SOURCE: Hanger Orthopedic Group, Inc.   Hanger Orthopedic Group, Inc. Announces Second Quarter Operating Results   BETHESDA, Md., Aug. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Hanger Orthopedic Group, Inc. (NYSE: HGR - news) today announced results of its operations for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2001.   Revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2001 increased to a record $129.2 million from $125.9 million in the prior year's second quarter. The sales growth is primarily the result of increased revenues at facilities owned and operated by Hanger during the second quarters of both 2000 and 2001.   During the second quarter of 2001, Hanger recognized a non-cash $8.2 million charge to account for the proposed sale of certain assets of its Seattle Orthopedic Group, Inc. manufacturing business and a $3.7 million charge to account for restructuring costs and other asset write-offs resulting from its re-engineering initiatives. Giving effect to the foregoing one-time and extraordinary costs, income from operations was $3.3 million for the second quarter 2001 compared to $16.5 million for the corresponding period in 2000. The income from operations before these non-recurring asset write-offs, restructuring and integration charges for the second quarter of 2001 was $15.2 million compared to $17.0 million for the corresponding period in 2000. This decrease of $1.8 million was primarily attributable to a higher materials accrual cost rate which was partially offset by lower operating labor expenses and a slightly higher allowance for bad debt and performance compensation contained in the general and administrative expenses.   Giving effect to the unusual charges, net loss applicable to common stock for the second quarter of 2001 was $5.9 million, or approximately $.31 perdiluted share, on 18.9 million shares. For the corresponding period of the prior year, Hanger had net income applicable to common stock of $1.2 million, or approximately $.06 per diluted share, on 19.2 million shares.   Revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2001 increased to a record $249.8 million from $240.7 million in the prior year's six months ended June 30, 2000. The sales growth is primarily the result of increased revenues at facilities owned and operated by Hanger during the first half of 2000 and 2001.   Income from operations was $10.5 million for the first half of 2001 compared to $28.7 million for the corresponding period in 2000. Income from operations before asset write-offs, restructuring and integration charges for the first half of 2001 was $22.4 million compared to $29.8 million for the corresponding period in 2000. This decrease of $7.4 million was primarily attributable to a higher materials accrual cost rate which was partially offset by lower operating labor expenses and a slightly higher allowance for bad debt and performance compensation contained in the general and administrative expenses.   Giving effect to the unusual charges, the net loss applicable to common stock for the first half of 2001 was $7.0 million, or approximately $.37 per diluted share, on 18.9 million shares. For the corresponding period of the prior year, Hanger had a net loss applicable to common stock of $177,000, or approximately $.01 per diluted share, on 18.9 million shares.   Chairman and CEO, Ivan R. Sabel stated, ``Our strategic and operating restructuring initiatives are continuing to move forward. During this quarter, we made significant progress in inventory management and cash collections. I am confident that the one-time and extraordinary costs that we recognized in this quarter will be a worthwhile investment for the long-term value of our company. The work of our employees will be accelerating throughout the year and we expect to see the benefit of these initiatives as we move forward.''   Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Hanger is a national public company specializing in patient-care services for orthotics and prosthetics (``O&P''). The Company now provides O&P services in 594 patient-care centers located in 45 states including the District of Columbia and is the largest distributor of O&P supplies and components in the country. Hanger also is engaged in the manufacture and distribution of components and finished patient-care products to the O&P industry, and through its OPNET program, provides O&P services to over 1,000 managed care programs.   Certain statements included in this press release are forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Please refer to the Company's SEC filings for factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations.   Hanger Orthopedic Group, Inc. (In Thousands, Except Per Share Data) For the Three Months For the Six Months Income Statement Data: Ended June 30, Ended June 30, 2001 2000 2001 2000 Net sales $129,187 $125,872 $249,760 $240,740 Cost of products and services sold 63,434 60,310 126,408 117,494 Gross profit 65,753 65,562 123,352 123,246 Selling, general and administrative expenses 44,137 42,833 88,442 82,008 Depreciation and amortization 3,334 2,939 6,392 5,656 Amortization of excess cost over net assets acquired 3,073 2,796 6,119 5,787 Income from operations before one-time and extraordinary items 15,209 16,994 22,399 29,795 Restructuring and asset impairment costs 3,688 502 3,688 1,088 Impairment loss on assets held for sale 8,176 --- 8,176 --- Income from operations 3,345 16,492 10,535 28,707 Interest expense, net (11,033) (10,951) (23,291) (22,109) Other income (expense) net 39 (31) 140 (33) Income (loss) before income taxes (7,649) 5,510 (12,616) 6,565 Provision (benefit) for income taxes (2,908) 3,103 (8,007) 4,438 Net income (loss) $(4,741) $2,407 $(4,609) $2,127 Net income (loss) applicable to common stock $(5,945) $1,241 $(6,997) $(177) Per Share Data (diluted): Net income (loss) per share $(0.31) $0.06 $(0.37) $(0.01) Weighted average number of common shares outstanding 18,910,002 19,154,415 18,910,002 18,910,002 June 30, December 31, Balance Sheet Data: 2001 2000 Working Capital $ 150,086 $133,690 Total Debt 444,214 460,433 Shareholders' Equity 147,383 154,380 For the Three Months For the Six Months Statistical Data: Ended June 30, Ended June 30, 2001 2000 2001 2000 Patient-care centers 594 626 594 626 Certified practitioners 886 975 886 975 Number of states (including D.C.) 45 45 45 45 Payor mix: Private pay and other 60.1% 60.9% 60.1% 60.8% Medicare/Medicaid/VA 39.9% 39.1% 39.9% 39.2% EBITDA margin (1) 16.7% 18.1% 14.0% 17.1% Operating margin (1) 11.8% 13.5% 9.0% 12.4% Percentage of net sales from: Practice management and Patient-care services 92.9% 92.1% 92.5% 92.0% Manufacturing 1.2% 2.1% 1.3% 2.1% Distribution 5.9% 5.8% 6.2% 5.9% Excluding restructuring costs and impairment loss in Y2001 and Y2000. SOURCE: Hanger Orthopedic Group, Inc.       For Immediate Release April 23, 2001     OTTO BOCK ACQUIRES SPRINGLITE   MINNEAPOLIS, Minn (April 20, 2001) -- Otto Bock Healthcare GmbH, the world's leading manufacturer-distributor of prosthetic (artificial limb) and orthotic (bracing) components, today announced the acquisition of C.R.P., Inc., (dba Springlite), the rapidly growing Salt Lake City based manufacturer-distributor of high-tech composite prosthetic feet. The acquisition, which was made through the purchase of C.R.P.'s stock for an undisclosed amount of cash, includes Springlite's plant in Salt Lake City and the 30+ employees who work there. Both companies are privately held and further details of the agreement are not available.   Otto Bock, founded in 1919, is based in Duderstadt, Germany. North American headquarters have been in Minneapolis, Minn., since 1958.   The acquisition complements Otto Bock's leading worldwide position in prosthetic components and gives Springlite products access to Otto Bock's global sales and distribution network. Otto Bock can now offer customers and patients an even broader range of prosthetic feet. The company already leads the market in upper extremity myoelectric prostheses, knee components and computer-controlled lower-extremity components, such as the state-of-the-art C-Leg® Knee-Shin System.   "Springlite's full line of high-tech, carbon fiber composite prosthetic feet rounds out Otto Bock's portfolio beautifully," said Bert Harman, president and CEO of Otto Bock North America. "Springlite has developed a reputation for technological innovation and superb customer service," he added. "We're delighted to welcome their employees."   Harman explained that the orthotic/prosthetic industry has been consolidating over the past few years and would expect Otto Bock to be an active participant in manufacturing consolidations. Otto Bock's core business is the research, development, manufacture and distribution of technologically innovative prosthetic and orthotic products.   John Merlette, president of Springlite, said, "As we looked at how best to take Springlite into the 21st century, we could not have imagined a better home for our products and our employees than Otto Bock."   Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, Springlite began the design and manufacture of prosthetic devices in 1988. Fueled with extensive manufacturing expertise gained by developing advanced composite structures for aerospace industries, Springlite has maintained its leadership in prosthetics through innovative design and adherence to exacting quality standards. Springlite is an industry leader in elastomer technology and composite fabrication and its products are among the lightest and most durable available.   Over the next few months, Otto Bock will evaluate its existing manufacturing operations in Salt Lake City, and determine whether facilities could be consolidated. Otto Bock's current site fabricates high-performance seating products for the medical rehabilitation market. In the short term, Springlite will operate separately and Otto Bock customers in the U.S. may access Springlite products by calling Springlite directly.   For additional information, contact Karen Lundquist, Otto Bock Health Care, at 1-800-328-4058, ext. 271, or Dave Wall, Springlite, Inc., at 1-800-344-0328, or visit Otto Bock's web site at www.ottobockus.com.     For Immediate Release: August 31, 2001   Mr. Kyle Stephens 2001 Pinnacle Award Recipient Springlite proudly announces the recipient of the Third Quarter 2001 Pinnacle Awards - Mr. Kyle Stephens of Cache County Utah.   Much like the famous "chicken" scene in the 1984 movie "Footloose", when Kevin Bacon's shoe string gets caught on the brake of the tractor, Kyle Stephens got caught on the armrest of a pneumatic roller he was operating while working on a road near Scofield, UT in 1999. Unable to free himself and jump clear, Kyle was swept under the top-heavy machine as it rolled over on top of him and down the embankment. Aboard the Life Flight helicopter that transported him 100 miles to Salt Lake City, paramedics cracked four ribs resuscitating Kyle from near death due to extreme blood loss and massive internal injuries.   The resulting amputation of both legs was only the initiation of a long journey down a highway marked by numerous surgeries and skin grafts. Even with this seemingly endless stream of medical potholes along his path, Kyle was determined to return to a pattern of living he had enjoyed before his accident. But his remarkable recovery was no coincidence. Severely injured in September 1999, Kyle was up walking by March of 2000. He succeeded with the help of a lot of people along the way and is now committed to expressing his gratitude through "Common Ground Outdoor Adventures", an Americorp VISTA outreach program.   Common Ground is a non-profit organization that provides adaptive sports equipment for people with disabilities. Stephens works as a VISTA volunteer and focuses his attention on fund-raising as their Outreach Coordinator. Eight monthsÕ into a one year commitment, Stephens says his work at Common Ground is a concrete way of expressing his appreciation to all those who helped him, even those he is unaware of. "To be able to do this, helping other people with disabilities, is my way of saying thanks to the people that helped get me to where I am today, whether I know who they are or not. ItÕs just my way of saying thank you."   Stephens remarkable determination and dedicated service to others resulted in his selection by "The Jenny Jones Show" in a special segment about people who had recovered from trauma. The special aired on April 10, 2001 and gave all those in the audience a renewed faith in the human spirit and the courage to move forward in time of personal turmoil. Springlite extends itÕs heartfelt appreciation to Kyle for inspiring us all by his example of personal determination and unceasing humanitarian efforts. Kyle Stephens has dedicated his $2,000 Pinnacle Award to the Common Ground Outdoor Adventure program. For more information on this program, please call (435) 713-0288.     ------------------------------------------------------------   AROUND THE WORLD   SPECIAL FEATURE - MEDIA FRENZY OR SHARK FRENZY   Stab victim has leg amputated to save life   Hunt stepped up for attacker: Police teams at the scene of the stabbing   A man stabbed in a street attack has had part of his leg amputated during surgery in a bid to save his life.     Paul Turner, 28, is still unconscious and in intensive care after the attack in Plymouth. Police tape marks the area in the city's Melrose Avenue He was found in a pool of blood in the city's Melrose Avenue in the early hours of Friday. Police are now treating the attack as attempted murder and 50 officers are working on the case.   Mr Turner, from Wolsdon Street in Plymouth's Stonehouse district, suffered heavy blood loss after being stabbed in the leg and was taken to the city's Derriford Hospital.   Fifty officers are now on the case   "He underwent an operation to amputate his right leg just above the knee, " said a Devon and Cornwall police spokesman.   "The leg could not be saved after the blade passed through the femoral artery and severed the nerves."   Mr Turner was identified by his sister after a police appeal which mentioned the man they were trying to identify had a distinctive tattoo on his leg.   An incident room has been set up in the hunt for Mr Turner's attacker.   Officers said they are hunting a blond man aged in his late twenties seen running from the scene. A police appeal has been issued for information about him and about a red coupe, possibly a Toyota or a Ford, in which he might have driven away.     Saturday, 7 July, 2001, 20:19 GMT 21:19 UK Hand amputation in Nigeria   The Sharia issue has raised tensions throughout Nigeria   By David Bamford in Abidjan   The authorities in the Nigerian north-western state of Sokoto have amputated the right hand of a 30-year-old man as punishment for stealing a goat, worth about $40.   This is the third such amputation to take place since 11 states in northern Nigeria began introducing strict punishments based on Islamic Sharia law two years ago.     Several states have implemented Sharia law   Officials in the northern Nigerian city of Kano said the punishment was carried out on Friday in a humane manner at a local hospital.   But why this particular man should have had his hand cut off for a relatively minor misdemeanor is unclear.   Although harsh punishments, including being stoned to death, are technically allowed against Muslims for certain crimes under Sharia law, recent eyewitness reports suggest Islamic judges have tended to be lenient.   Many northern Nigerian communities include a significant proportion of non-Muslims who are bitterly hostile to Sharia law, and although the authorities insist that non-Muslims are unaffected by Sharia courts, this is disputed.   The general air of tension across northern and central Nigeria has helped fuel several weeks of inter-communal violence, in which an unknown number of people have been killed.       Thursday, 6 September, 2001, 16:26 GMT 17:26 UK Shark attack factfile Sharks are once again being vilified in the media after a spate of attacks off the American east coast. But many marine experts believe the bad press paints an incomplete picture. BBC News Online examines the facts.   There are usually between 70 and 100 shark attacks every year, resulting in 5 to 15 deaths worldwide. In 2000, 10 fatalities were recorded.   The three types of unprovoked attack (Source ISAF)   Hit and run: Most common and usually when the shark mistakes person for normal prey. Repeat attacks rare. Bump and bite: The shark circles and often bumps the victim before attacking. Repeat attacks common. Injuries severe or fatal. Sneak: Strike occurs without warning. Injuries severe or fatal   The number of annual attacks is increasing. The International Shark Attack Files recorded 536 attacks in the 1990s, the highest in any decade so far.   * While the actual number of shark attacks is going up, so too are the numbers of bathers. There is no indication of any change in the per capita rate of attack.   * Any large shark - about two metres or longer - is a potential threat to humans, but the three main attacking species are the white shark, the tiger shark and the bull shark.   * The white shark has been implicated in 43% of attacks on divers. The species has attacked 348 times around the world since records began in 1580.   * Most attacks occur in waters near the shore. Areas with steep drop-off sites or near sandbars are particularly vulnerable as sharks congregate in these areas to feed.   *   Do sharks get a bad press? This basking shark is harmless to man   Shark attack injury is less common than other beach-related injuries such as stingray and jellyfish stings.   * More people are injured or killed on land while driving to and from the beach than by the sharks they might meet when they get there.   * Bees, wasps and snakes are responsible for far more fatalities each year than sharks.   * Humans kill an estimated 25 million sharks each year, either through commerical fishing for meat or fins, or purely for sport.     Thursday, 6 September, 2001, 12:55 GMT 13:55 UK Florida proposal to ban shark feeding Reports suggest attacks are rising   A member of the state legislature in Florida has introduced a bill to ban shark feeding, in an attempt to reduce the number of shark attacks off the US east coast.   Republican Rene Garcia wants to prohibit shark feeding except for research and educational purposes.   One of the theories for a recent spate of shark attacks has been that sharks are lured into shallow water by feeding demonstrations staged especially for tourists.     There have been 40 reported shark attacks this year, 37 in the US     The Florida bill follows an incident on Monday when a Russian man was killed and his woman companion critically injured.   Sergei Zaloukaev, 28, died from massive blood loss after multiple shark bites.   It was the second fatal shark attack off the US east coast in two days - a boy was killed at Virginia Beach some 217 kilometres (135 miles) further north on Saturday.   His father managed to fight off the shark, but the boy died several hours later from loss of blood.   According to one expert, the reason for the attacks is quite simple: the bathers were in the water at normal feeding times for sharks.   "They were feeding, pure and simple," said David Griffin, director of the North Carolina Aquarium.   Shallow water attack   The Russian couple had been wading in surf off a beach near Avon, a remote town along North Carolina's Outer Banks barrier islands.   They were attacked at about 1800 (2200 GMT) as they waded between 6-12 metres (20-40 feet) from the shore near a sand bar.   The dead man's companion, Natalia Slobonskaya, 23, received serious injuries to her lower torso, Dr Seaborn Blair at the Avon Medical Center said.   She was taken by helicopter to the Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Virginia, where she was described as critical, but stable in intensive care after undergoing surgery for her wounds.   Holiday weekend   On Saturday, 10-year-old David Peltier, was attacked as he surfed with his father and brothers at Sandbridge Beach in Virginia.     David Peltier died from blood loss after being attacked   The shark tore a 40 centimetre (17 inch) gash in his left thigh and would not release him until his father hit it repeatedly on the head.     The attack occurred in just over a metre of water some 15 metres from shore.   Both fatal attacks have fallen on the Labor Day holiday weekend when the beaches are packed with tourists.   In a similar shark attack on the Florida coast in July, eight-year-old Jessie Arbogast lost an arm and most of his blood. He survived, but remains in a light coma due to brain damage.   The International Shark Attack File of the University of Florida has reported 40 known shark attacks worldwide this year, none of which were fatal until now.   Of the 40 known attacks, 37 were in the United States and 28 were in Florida waters.     Monday, 20 August, 2001, 12:21 GMT 13:21 UK Spate of shark attacks off Florida Half of the world's shark attacks this year occurred off Florida   Three surfers were attacked by sharks in separate incidents within a few miles of each other off the Atlantic coast of the US state of Florida on Sunday.   The attacks came just a day after three similar attacks on a nearby stretch of coast.   Two of them just came at me as fast as they could and hit my surfboard, went under my surfboard, came from behind and pulled me off   Robert Kurrek All the attacks are being blamed on blacktip and spinner sharks and none were life threatening, Joe Wooden, deputy chief of the Volusia County beach patrol said.   There have been 34 shark attacks worldwide so far this year, with attacks in Florida accounting for about half of them.   Sunday's first attack occurred at about 1130 (1530 GMT) when a 17-year-old female surfer off Wilbur-by-the-Sea, south of Daytona Beach, had her left foot bitten by a shark.   Two attacks within a minute   Her boyfriend, Scott Love, who witnessed the event, said, "she caught a wave, came off her board and started screaming and yelling".       Just two hours later two other surfers were bitten within a minute of each other five miles (8km) away in New Smyrna Beach, near the scene of Saturday's attacks.   Becky Chapman, 17, had surgery after being bitten in the left calf. A 32-year-old man, Robert Kurrek, was bitten in the right foot.   Mr Kurrek said that he had seen about two dozen sharks around him just prior to the attack.   "Two of them just came at me as fast as they could and hit my surfboard, went under my surfboard, came from behind and pulled me off," he said.   Beaches closed   A one-mile stretch of beach was then closed for the rest of the day.   The attacks came just a day after three men were attacked a few miles up the coast at Ponce Inlet, between Daytona and New Smyrna, whilst taking part in a surfing competition.     All six victims were surfers   There are reports that the surfers rode their boards into a migrating school of sharks, which then attacked the intruders.   All three received hospital treatment for their wounds, with one requiring surgery on his hand.   The surfing competition continued on Sunday, but was moved away from where the attacks occurred.   High risk area   Of the 34 shark bites reported worldwide this year, 17 occurred in Volusia County, Mr Wooden said.   Sharks are drawn to the area because it is rich in bait fish, he added.   Sharks have also been on the attack in the Bahamas this month, where two Americans were bitten in the leg.   Both are recovering at a Miami hospital, one after having his leg amputated.     Sunday, 12 August, 2001, 23:03 GMT 00:03 UK Shark attack boy leaves hospital   Jessie Arbogast, the American boy who lost nearly all his blood when his arm was bitten off by a shark in Florida last month, has been released from hospital.   Jessie, who is eight years old, remains in a light coma but doctors said that familiar surroundings might aid his recovery.   His ambulance was greeted by children laughing and crying with happiness in his home town of Ocean Springs, Mississippi.   Banners saying "Welcome Home Jessie" and yellow ribbons were hung throughout the town.   Progress   His kidneys have improved and he no longer needs dialysis.   The wounds in his leg and arm are healing and doctors say Jessie also has been making neurological progress. He sustained a brain injury due to blood loss.   But it could be up to 18 months before doctors will know how much use Jessie will regain of his arm.   Jesse alternates between periods of sleep and lying in a bed or sitting in a wheelchair with his eyes open, according to the doctors.   They say he responds to pain and deep stimulation.   Wrestling the shark   The accident happened on 6 July when the boy was on holiday with his family in Florida.   Jessie was playing in knee-deep water at the Gulf Islands National Seashore in the north-west of the state at dusk when a two-metre (6.6-foot) bull shark bit off his arm between the elbow and shoulder. One of his legs was also severely gashed.   Jessie's uncle carried him to shore, where relatives and beachgoers gave him cardiopulmonary resuscitation until he was flown by helicopter to the hospital.   The uncle then wrestled the shark to the beach, where a park ranger shot it four times in the head, causing it to relax its jaws.   Marathon surgery   The ranger pried the shark's mouth open with a police baton while volunteer fire-fighter Tony Thomas reached in and pulled the arm from the shark's throat using a pair of forceps, park officials said.     Ten people were killed in shark attacks around the world last year   Emergency workers put the arm on ice and it was reattached during 11 hours of surgery   The International Shark Attack File at the University of Florida confirmed 79 unprovoked shark attacks on humans worldwide in 2000, and more than a third of those occurred in Florida waters.   Ten of the attacks were fatal, including one in Florida.         Help for Ian Stillman in India     A disabled Reading man who is in jail in India after allegations of drugs trafficking is set to receive help from a Basingstoke company.   Charity worker Ian Stillman, who is both deaf and an amputee - has faced difficulty coping with conditions in prison after a problem with his false leg.   Unable to get around, the situation has compounded the isolation he already felt because of his deafness. But now Basingstoke based prosthetics company, Blatchfords, has arranged for someone from its Delhi office to visit Mr Stillman, and examine his wooden leg.   Mr Stillman, 51, has spent the last 30 years in India and in 1978 set up the Nambikkai Foundation which aims to provide education, training and employment for the adult deaf.   He has been deaf since the age of two after being given quinine as a treatment for a severe malaria attack while in Kenya with his parents.   Last August he was arrested while travelling in the north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh and police claimed they found 20 kilos of cannabis in his car. At a trial in June, Mr Stillman was convicted and given a 10 year sentence.   Campaigners say it was one of the worst mis-carriages of justice ever seen. Conditions in the jail are said to be poor, and Mr Stillman has lost so much weight that his false leg no longer fits.   The charity worker's family say fixing the limb could significantly improve his life in prison as they look ahead to his appeal hearing in September.       South African Blast Survivors   The Giddings family; Tony, Mandy and their children Laura and Jacob were on holiday in South Africa at the invitation of Tony's parents. One evening the whole family set off to have a treat - a meal in a cape Town restaurant, but they never got further than the front door.   Tony explains " as we were walking across the room the bomb exploded. At that point the world fell in. It appeared that we'd all been blown in different directions. I found and spoke to both my parents and Mandy but I never actually found the children immediately after the bomb blast." Tony was taken to hospital but to a different one to his family "during that time I had no idea whether they were alive or dead, the emotion is totally indescribable."   Mandy takes up the story "luckily the rest of us managed to get into the one ambulance and were all taken to the same hospital ...it was chaos...I wanted to be with my children but they wouldn't allow me to be because I'd had a head injury which they wanted to get sewn up and I was leaving puddles of blood all over their floor."   Tony's mother who was the only member of the family not to be injured went from hospital to hospital in search of Tony as Mandy explains"It was very easy for me lying there on a hospital trolley to saying we need to find Tony. But she was in Cape Town, she'd lost her glasses, she'd no money the cellular phone had been blown up, she didn't know where she was and it was obviously a very difficult thing for her to do and although she said later that they'd destroyed our family because we were there at there invitation, but I really don't know what I've had done without her because I couldn't be with the children but she was and at least they had somebody familiar."   Three people were killed and twenty seven people were injured in the bomb explosion. Mandy and Tony's daughter Laura had suffered a serious leg injury which meant amputation " She took it very well, I really don't think it hit her for a number of days. She asked me, whether it was ever going to come back again and I said no but we'd get her the best pretend one we possibly could. She was terrible depressed and the only person she would respond to was her little brother....she would just look through you as though you weren't there which is a heart-rending thing for a parent to see."   Were they able to talk about what had happened? Mandy says "Right from day one we started talking about it particularly with the children because we felt it was important that they knew that we felt they same way they did, that we were scared, that we were frightened by what happened"   As Tony explains, "I think that one thing most people don't appreciate is that our 'normal' has changed. It has become part of our everyday life that Laura is an amputee and to an extent disabled and Jacob is a constant worry because he still has shrapnel in his spinal canal and we are very aware that a knock could result in the shrapnel going into his spinal cord and in the worst case could cause paralysis."   How have the children coped? Do they really understand what happened to them? "Jacob is still coming to terms with it; the other morning he came into the bedroom with his teddy bear wrapped in a blanket and said that Teddy had been blown up and had lost his leg like Laura, It's very difficult to explain to a child that young what happened. Laura has a very good understanding of what happened to her but in no way feels sorry for herself, she understands that other people died ..." says Mandy.   Mandy says that they had some professional counselling "We saw a trauma counsellor who had counselled people in the Clapham Train Crash. He was very useful to us and gave us very good advice but I think we saw him four times and he told us to go away. There was nothing psychiatric about us and we were the most together family he'd ever seen."   Tony adds "The truth is that anyone who finds themselves in the circumstances that we did or similar circumstances, well you have two choices; either you get on with it, or it takes you down, and you go under. I hope to spend more time with my children and actually enjoy them. Perhaps like most fathers I was so busy with bringing an income in to the family that I tended to overlook the children and I'm not going to let that happen again.   What about the future? Mandy explains "We just get on with life, because it puts life into perspective. You really don't know what's going to happen in the next five minutes and so we live every day as though it's possibly our last."       Peter Castro on McCartney's engagement     July 27, 2001 Posted: 4:41 PM EDT (2041 GMT) Peter Castro says Paul McCartney's recent engagement to Heather Mills is not really a big surprise     (CNN) -- Former Beatle Paul McCartney announced his engagement to his girlfriend of three years, Heather Mills, on Thursday. Peter Castro of People magazine discussed the impending nuptials with CNN anchors Colleen McEdwards and Carol Lin on CNN Friday morning.   COLLEEN MCEDWARDS: That's a happy couple if you ever seen one. Paul McCartney, Heather Mills making it official this morning.   CAROL LIN: It is official.   MCEDWARDS: They're engaged.   LIN: Yes, it's official. Larry King, you know, in fact, was asking about ... when these two people first met. ... Heather Mills was speaking about land mines at a nonprofit -- a foundation that she ...       MCEDWARDS: Yes, it's a charity that she runs for people who have had their limbs -- lost their limbs, that kind of thing. She actually had a limb amputated below the knee in a -- just a freak accident with a police motorcycle. But it's a cause she sort of took up. They met completely by accident.   LIN: Yes, and at a really good time for him. I think he had gone through a very long mourning period for his wife, Linda McCartney, who had died from breast cancer. So, we're real happy for the couple. He is 59. She is 33. You know, you take it from there. We're going to be actually talking to -- oh, we're going to go to him now.   MCEDWARDS: Yes, I think we've got him now. Peter Castro who is with People magazine and knows all about this story. He's been working on it. Peter, was this a big surprise?   PETER CASTRO: Not really. You know, Paul and Heather had been making the rounds. They were very public about their relationship and very happy. And you know, he even came on a British television show and surprised her. And it was kind of corny but sweet, gave her a kiss and professed his love on the air, which for him, was a really remarkable thing to do.   MCEDWARDS: But he is quite -- he's quite a romantic, isn't he? I mean I've heard that he is -- he's sort of a nurturer and likes to do things for others.   CASTRO: Yes, he is. And I mean, you know, he's written some of the most beautiful songs of his career for the women in his life. And he's sort of like the poster boy for monogamy. When Paul McCartney loves you, I mean it's -- you're the woman in his life forever. And he does nurture. And this is something -- I think Heather Mills a woman who he loves very much but you know he's always liked to help people. And clearly -- I mean she's an amputee victim was sort of not exactly the kind of you know, model starlet that most rockers go after. And I think he found a vulnerability in her that appealed to him very much.   LIN: Certainly, a beautiful woman. Is she anything like Linda McCartney?   CASTRO: Well, she is in that she kind of, you know, is not a celebrity in her own right, is very simple. She's also a vegetarian. I think that appealed to him enormously. They were both blonde. But I think they were also very different. And you know, he once said, "Look, Linda was the love of my life. I'll never love anyone like her. But you know, you have special kinds of love and Heather is very special to me."   LIN: What do you make of the age difference between the two?   CASTRO: Well, you know, I mean it's not a -- exactly an Anna Nicole Smith situation but it's also not unusual for aging rockers to pursue younger woman. So I mean we've seen it all before.   MCEDWARDS: Do you think he -- is he interested in her causes, though? I mean do you think now that they're engaged and as they closer to the time of the actual wedding, we'll -- the public will be seeing more of them in public, seeing them talking about their shared issues together?   CASTRO: Yes. One of the things that Paul loved about Linda was the fact that she was such an activist and she was such an activist for the rights of animals. And when Paul met Heather, actually, they were at a charity function and she was giving a speech about, you know, people who are missing limbs. And I think that appealed to him. You know, he doesn't want a ditzy -- just a -- he doesn't want an arm piece. He wants somebody with a mind and somebody who does good for other people like himself.   LIN: Great story. It's a great story and it's nice to see them so happy. Thanks so much to you.   MCEDWARDS: Thank you.   CASTRO: Thank you.         BOMBS DON'T CARE Indiscrimnate Bombing Injures the Innocent   As a result of the NATO bombing campaign to topple Slobodan Milosovic   Shamsha's story 'After an attack, I went out to look for my father who was missing, I didn't know if he was dead or alive. As I was walking to the town, a bomb exploded. My younger brother had already gone missing and my mother had been missing for four months. I was put in the hospital, where I have been a patient for about 6 months.'   I would like my arms and hands to be mended. I am in great agony and a terrible situation. I don't have hands. I can't eat my food, I have to be fed by someone else. I would like to see my hands working. I want peace and the war to be stopped. I want to go to school and get an education. If the hospitals were working I would like my hands to be treated. If it was up to me, I would say that no child of my age should ever lose his hands. I would like to say to the militia, look what you have done, you have destroyed my hands. Please don't continue to blow off children's hands. Please stop the fighting.'     Zmaray's story 'On our way back to home, one of my friends asked me to fetch a can that was on the other side of the bar around the Russian station. When I climbed over the bar to pick it up there was a big explosion. I was injured and lying on the ground when I realized that a bomb had exploded. The other boys ran away and at that momnet one of the Russian men came to help me. They took me to the military hospital and kept me there for three or four days. Just one person was allowed to visit me in hospital. I wanted to see my mother, but my mother didn't want to come to the Russian hospital. So I left the hospital.   I went to Peshawar, but it was very hard as I had lost one leg and my other leg was injured in many places as well. The day after I got to the hospital in Peshawar, an Arab doctor saw me. When he saw the Russian bandage on my leg, which was already smelling, he refused to examine me because he thought I was a communist. My brother Abid asked the doctor to check my leg, but he didn't want to examine me. At this time a German doctor appeared and he understood the situation. He told the Arabian doctor to check me and he took responsibility for me and I was allowed to stay at the hospital. I spent three months there and I was operated on.'   Ruslan Maisigov, journalist working in Chechnya I was in the casualty department in one of the hospitals. Some people were laying in the corridors, some were in the basements. About a third of all patients were children, most of them with amputations. One 14 year old boy from Sharoi had both of his legs amputated. His mother told me that kids were playing football at a local field. There were no war activities in the areas, but the field went under tank fire from Russian army. Eight kids were killed, others were wounded. Sometimes they are brought into [neighbouring] Ingushetia, but have to wait for several hours or sometimes days at army checkpoints. I also saw a 14 year old girl from Grozny. She was brought from the main city market after a rocket attack. She got her right arm amputated. 'There was nothing doctors could do with it' she said.   Vanja, 11, Serbia, speaking after NATO bombardment of Belgrade. 'I am 11 years old. I think this is very sad and terrible. I would like to live normal, in peace. I would like to spend my childhood in love and at least not in a basement. I am really sorry for what is happening to the Albanian children. But my father never had a gun and did not want independence or any other Kosovo. Americans are the ones who want something and must put the gasline in the fire. OK Americans tell us, how many of us should die so you can feel happy?'     Nadya, 18, Belgrade, Yugoslavia 'World, PLEASE don't be blind! Nato is not bombing Milosevic! Nato is bombing PEOPLE of Yugoslavia! Can't you see that it is nothing but hypocrisy saying that bombs are falling to create peace?! World, do you know that we are almost day and night in bomb shelters, that our schools and hospitals are damaged, even our, CHRISTIAN, holy land-monastery of Grachanica (which is on Kosovo)? World, where are children and civil rights? I'm 18, do you know how I feel? I can hear alarm for air attack right now! WORLD, CAN'T YOU HEAR IT?!"   Dusan, Yugoslavia I am student from Yugoslavia. There are bombs all over our heads. Is this really world's hypocrisy or what? We want to live in peace, to have normal life as every human being deserves. This is maybe my last chance to contact you. I am writing you from Novi Sad, capital of Vojvodina where we lived together with people in multicultural community. So please leave us alone. Please, please STOP your bombs. IT IS NOT OUR FAULT. WE ARE NOT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC.   A more extensive selection of emails on the Kosovo crisis can be read at Talking Point.   Qalam's story 'My name is Qalam. My one leg has been amputated . I was near a military camp and I was having a walk with my friends and hit a mine . At that time I was 15 years old . I just went for a walk, my leg blew up in the mine explosion. I had not informed my family that I was going with my friends. May be it was all in my fate. Perhaps that was my luck.'   Fawad's story 'My mother was suckling my baby brother, who had been born two days ago, when a rocket hit our house, as a result of which the baby was killed and my mother injured. She was taken to the hospital and as there was a barrage of rockets nobody could dare to help us bury the baby. So my father buried him alone. Then my younger sister was affected by diphtheria and oxygen was not available in the hospital. My father got oxygen from another hospital and carried the container to the 18th floor. Doing so he hurt his back. But at this moment the hospital came under rocket attack and doctors refused to give the oxygen to my sister. She died and it was a horrible experience for us. Every night when I remember that scene I cry.'     ------------------------------------------------------------       GENERAL DISABILITY     Pravda.RU:Fun:More in detail 18:24 2001-08-10 DOCTORS GREW PENIS ON GUY'S ARM 16-year-old guy Malik was ready to make up with the idea he will never be a real man. But the doctors gave the hope back to him.   The guy was deprived of his genitals when peeing. The urine spurt incidentally got on the bald wire. The current rush caused so much damage to the sexual organ that it had to be amputated. The guy's relatives did not want to make up with that fate and started searching for some medical institution that could bring the love handles back. They found it.   The specialists of the department for reconstructive micro-surgery of the Russian clinical hospital for children examined Malik and said the situation could be improved. In the beginning they made a cut on his forearm and stitched an expander in there &endash; a 12 centimeter empty latex cylinder. A certain amount of physical solution was injected in the expander daily, the skin was expanding and growing taking the shape of a penis. This organ was growing on guy's arm for 10 months! Finally the doctors cut it away from Malik's forearm together with the feeding artery, made an urethra in it and sew it to the place where it should be.   - If they make an artificial limb in a while then our guy will be able to have the normal sex life, - surgeon Sergei Yasonov said.   ------------------------------------------------------------   SPORTS   Thirty five foot boat crewed by amputees finishes 52nd in class - in a race where simply finishing is regarded as a major challenge for fully limbed crews.   http://www.rorc.org/raceresults/fastnet/ms0117.html   GBR7718R Watch Out Ian Whiting 17 Aug - 08:49:31 4 - 16:09:31 1.049 4 - 21:39:16 52 43.4     ------------ oooOOOooo --------------------   Amputation Online magazine is a production of GB Communications 56-3550 Adanac Street Vancouver BC Canada V5K 4Y6   Editor: Ian Gregson igregson@amputee-online.com   Online archives can be found at http://amputee-online.com/amputation   Advertising information can be found at http://amputee-online.com/amputation/common/advert.html   Articles used are copyrighted