Limb Loss Awareness Month

Vincent Avignone

 We would like to feature Vincent Avigone. After spending two years struggling to save his limb, Vincent has overcome a below the knee amputation. He has now regained his crazy life back and loves every minute of it! Vincent is the proud owner of a lawn, garden, & landscaping business. He proudly owns this buisness with his sons who truly keep business moving forwards! Since 1996, Vincent Avignone & Sons and has been providing lawn care & landscaping services to over 100 customers. Vincent was recently featured in the paper for a church charity event in Asbury Park. His smiling face was captured sitting atop his Bobcat mower clearing out debris that filled the entire 4th ave block in Asbury!
Vincent also cherishes and loves spending time with his family. He is the father of 5 children and has 7 grandchildren whom he adores.

Ray O'Grady

We would like to feature Ray O'Grady. Ray has been a patient of ours for years. More importantly, he has been a dear friend and is a true pleasure to be around. With a smile & positive attitude, Ray has accomplished more than we can even share! An avid golfer pre and post amputation, Ray loves spending time on the golf course aiming for a hole in one! When you can't find Ray out on the golf course, you can catch him at Allaire State Park. He is on the Board of Trustees and also holds the Treasurer title for the Historic Village of Allaire. He spends most of his weekends showing visitors around the Living History Museum and what everyday life was like in 1836. Come visit Allaire State Park this weekend to see Ray in militia action at the Spring Festival! Ray and his family also have a love for Disney!! It truly is a place of magic boasting wonderful accessibility for the handicapped. Next time you have your Mickey ears on, give a little shout out to Ray : )


Please click the link to see an article written by HealthSouth on more about his ability to bounce back after becoming a bilateral amputee
http://www.rehabnjtomsriver.com/en/news/2014-amputee-patient-in-full-swing

Kathy Poppe

We would like to feature Kathy Poppe and her amazing achievements throughout the years. Kathy worked “Corporate America” for 25 years in numerous major corporations, up until 1990. In 1990, she became a professional horse teaching, riding, and training instructor. Starting her own farm in Colts Neck in 1983, she began riding at age 25 achieving numerous champion medals up the entire East Coast. 
This year 2016, Central Jersey Horse Show Association nominated the beloved Kathy Poppe! Wood Hollow Farm was awarded Gold Medal Horse Farm by Rutgers; 1 of the only 3 in the state of NJ featuring a lab for the Rutgers Equine program. And that’s not all…Kathy also formed the Colts Neck Equestrian Team, focusing on middle school and high school students. She designed a program modeled after the National College for Equestrian Team creating amazing opportunities for future scholarships.

Please see the attached article featuring the entire story of Kathy Poppe- “An accomplished horsewoman who plans to be back to fox hunting soon despite recently having both legs amputated. She's also a judge and instructor and inspired her students so much they nominated for the Central Jersey Horsemen's Association' trainer of the year honors.”
http://www.nj.com/horsenews/2015/12/colts_neck_equestrian_inspires.html