Thanks to the Barr Foundation
Tony Barr
Description
Collection
Title:
Thanks to the Barr Foundation
Creator:
Tony Barr
Date:
4/25/2001
Text:
> Paul, please share this with your subscribers.
> Tony Barr
>
> To all that have made it possible
> At the Barr Foundation:
> When I first became and amputee in 1994 due to a hit and run, I knew
> my life would change. To my surprise, it did but in a positive way. True I
> lost my Leg below the knee and being that I was in show business I had the
> money to buy my own legs. But I had no idea that the cost was that high
> until I found out that I needed more than one. ( OUCH) that really hurt
> the pocket. A year Later I was back on track and with a BK prosthetic, I took 3rd
> place in the Regional one of the biggest dance competitions in the US. This
> was the first time that at the United States Ballroom Championships, a
> one-legged dance teacher had ever entered and won this event. So, you can
> say I was the first, and the good news is that no one knew I was an amputee
> until the awards were handed out. We did our honor dance and as I took my bow I
> pulled off my leg and waved it up in the air. Silence was in the room for
> more than 10 seconds then out of the blue, I have never in my life heard
> such a loud roar of applause and yelling, I knew I took 3rd but in my heart I won.
>
> A year after that, I wrecked my knee and contracted Ostiomyolitis and I
> then became an AK. I knew I would be fine so I thought. Until I found out
> how important it is to have a good knee, a good socket, a good foot and a
> person to work with you. All I knew was that I had to get back ASAP and it
> was not happening.
> In my years being BK I met some great people one of them being Chaz
> Holder, who introduced me to Elmer Speelman who lives in Fayetteville, NC
> and to tell you the truth, he has been an angel in disguise. He and the Barr
> foundation, have given me a chance to do it all over again. I knew that AK
> legs cost more than BK legs but I had no clue that they were that expensive
> so I knew there and then that I really could not do the AK leg without
> help.
> If it were not for Tony Barr, the Barr Foundation and Elmer Speelman who together got
> me up and dancing again. I would still be on crutches or a leg that did not
> fit. One of the other amputees that I met through the years, sent me one of
> his legs in the mail, I did wear it for a while and it just about killed me
> it was so heavy, then Elmer made me a socket and it helped, a good socket
> made a big difference. Then Elmer told me about the Barr Foundation so I
> called and well I am back.
> I have worked with other amputees who would never think of getting up
> and dancing again, and together we have reached that goal. So you see life
> is not over after amputation, and I am sure a lot of you have said this or
> maybe even read it somewhere at one time or another, but it is now my turn
> to say it.
>
> Thank you Barr Foundation and Elmer Speelman for giving me back my life.
>
> Thank you,
> George Velazquez
>
>
>
> Tony Barr
>
> To all that have made it possible
> At the Barr Foundation:
> When I first became and amputee in 1994 due to a hit and run, I knew
> my life would change. To my surprise, it did but in a positive way. True I
> lost my Leg below the knee and being that I was in show business I had the
> money to buy my own legs. But I had no idea that the cost was that high
> until I found out that I needed more than one. ( OUCH) that really hurt
> the pocket. A year Later I was back on track and with a BK prosthetic, I took 3rd
> place in the Regional one of the biggest dance competitions in the US. This
> was the first time that at the United States Ballroom Championships, a
> one-legged dance teacher had ever entered and won this event. So, you can
> say I was the first, and the good news is that no one knew I was an amputee
> until the awards were handed out. We did our honor dance and as I took my bow I
> pulled off my leg and waved it up in the air. Silence was in the room for
> more than 10 seconds then out of the blue, I have never in my life heard
> such a loud roar of applause and yelling, I knew I took 3rd but in my heart I won.
>
> A year after that, I wrecked my knee and contracted Ostiomyolitis and I
> then became an AK. I knew I would be fine so I thought. Until I found out
> how important it is to have a good knee, a good socket, a good foot and a
> person to work with you. All I knew was that I had to get back ASAP and it
> was not happening.
> In my years being BK I met some great people one of them being Chaz
> Holder, who introduced me to Elmer Speelman who lives in Fayetteville, NC
> and to tell you the truth, he has been an angel in disguise. He and the Barr
> foundation, have given me a chance to do it all over again. I knew that AK
> legs cost more than BK legs but I had no clue that they were that expensive
> so I knew there and then that I really could not do the AK leg without
> help.
> If it were not for Tony Barr, the Barr Foundation and Elmer Speelman who together got
> me up and dancing again. I would still be on crutches or a leg that did not
> fit. One of the other amputees that I met through the years, sent me one of
> his legs in the mail, I did wear it for a while and it just about killed me
> it was so heavy, then Elmer made me a socket and it helped, a good socket
> made a big difference. Then Elmer told me about the Barr Foundation so I
> called and well I am back.
> I have worked with other amputees who would never think of getting up
> and dancing again, and together we have reached that goal. So you see life
> is not over after amputation, and I am sure a lot of you have said this or
> maybe even read it somewhere at one time or another, but it is now my turn
> to say it.
>
> Thank you Barr Foundation and Elmer Speelman for giving me back my life.
>
> Thank you,
> George Velazquez
>
>
>
Citation
Tony Barr, “Thanks to the Barr Foundation,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 2, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/216436.
