A Step Ahead: Prosthetic Limbs, Artificial Legs, Feet, Arms, Hands

Yes, we're gone from 17 West John Street. A Step Ahead has left the lower-level life behind, moving above-ground to its new location at 132 Newbridge Avenue, just around the corner from its prior location. While our employees are still adjusting to that bright light (known to top-dwellars as "the sun") shining through those clear panels (known to top-dwellars as "windows"), our clients are similarly adjusting to our no-longer ghost-like pallor and pasty complexions that we so carefully cultivated in our former, subterranean lives.

The good news is that our new facility has improved amenities for our clients, making the whole "A Step Ahead Experience" -- Jimi Hendrix considered and then abandoned this band title, primarily because the words "A", "Step", and "Ahead" were not part of his name -- even more scintillating that it already was. Hard to believe, but it's true. And while we know our clients will miss the elevator ride downstairs (no -- we still can't explain why the elevator would stop, then creep downwards the last 10 inches for another 7.3 seconds before the doors opened), we have installed new machinery in our building that excites and amazes all who see it. It's like riding a carousel, and then getting on The Chiller at Six Flags. Except we don't have height requirements.

But seriously,the facility was custom-built with the needs of our clients in mind. Features include placing the parallel bars on a hydraulic lift so that clients can practicing walking inclines and declines at varying grades, a weight room for those of you with an interest in getting/staying buff, and ample/comfortable space for our Skin Tones system in-house. And of course, there's also wireless internet access for the computer-savvy among you, as well as the vast panoply of coffees, teas, and munchies that you (and we) have come to love and expect.

The new address is 132 Newbridge Road (which is Route 106). We look forward to seeing all of you at the new place!

2. Dare You to Move

The Ocean-to-Sound relay team did dare to move, successfully completing the 50 mile course that ranges from the South to North Shore of Long Island on September 26. The team members ran legs ranging from 5.5 to 7.5 miles long, in the following order: Jose Rodriguez (8:27/mile pace), Boubacar Sidiki (15:48/mile pace), Isaac Feliciano (12:40/mile pace), Lauren Peters (9:19/mile pace), Kelly Bruno (7:42/mile pace), Dave McGill (12:14/mile pace), Lori Penesis (9:19/mile pace), and Marcos Corti (8:12/mile pace). Congratulations to the team for its great work!

Jose Rodriguez and Marcos Corti are also moving in other races: Jose completed the Emerald Nuts Staten Island Half-Marathon in 2:38:52 (in his first effort at that distance), while Marcos is gearing up for the New York City Marathon in just a few weeks (his first marathon).

Finally, Sarah Reinertsen took the ultimate dare in attempting to complete the Ironman Triathlon in Kona, Hawaii (2.4 mile swim, 112 miles bike, full marathon) earlier this month. Buffeted by strong headwinds on her bike, Sarah missed the cutoff to run the marathon by 14 minutes. Sarah promises that she will return next year, as she strives to become the first female with a prosthesis to finish the race. Great job, Sarah!

3. This Is Your Life

Because this is your life, knowing how to navigate the complicated Medicare and New York State Medicaid systems can have a dramatic effect on your ability to access appropriate prosthetic care and treatment. Medicare is a Federal program that covers qualified individuals' medical costs. Medicaid is a state-based program that does much the same thing. In both programs, eligible people may have the option of either opting onto "regular" Medicare/Medicaid, or alternatively, a managed care program.

While these Medicare HMO's and Medicaid HMO's may provide some level of prosthetic coverage, you can only obtain treatment from "in-network" providers. A Step Ahead is not "in network". Thus, if you are eligible or will be eligible for either Medicare or New York State Medicaid, it is important to understand that if you select a managed care (HMO) model, A Step Ahead will not be able to provide you prosthetic treatment! However, A Step Ahead is both a regular Medicare and Medicaid provider, and can provide treatment to individuals in the non-managed-care Medicare and Medicaid programs. If you have any questions, please contact either David McGill or Janet MacQueen.

4. On Fire

That's how you would characterize Rita Timpanaro's golf game. Rita took first place in the age 50+ category against able-bodied competition in the recent Senior News Golf Classic. Rita did not disclose her score or her margin of victory, so we'll make it up: she shot 17 under par, beating her nearest competitor by 23 shots. We suspect that these numbers may be wrong, but they sure do catch your attention, don't they?

In a further demonstration that A Step Ahead's clients do more than run races, Paddy Rossbach was the member of a team that won the Northeast Adult Amateur Dressage Championship on September 25 and 26. Even if Paddy explained to us how scoring works in the world of dressage, we wouldn't understand it. Accordingly, her team either (a) scored the most points, (b) had the fewest penalty points, (c) received the highest marks from the judges, or (d) some combination of (a)-(c). And for those of you unfamiliar with the term "dressage", it refers to the guiding of a horse through a series of complex maneuvers by slight movements of the rider's hands, legs, and weight, NOT to putting on or taking off clothes faster than your competitors.

5. Meant to Live

A Step Ahead's resident songstress, Theresa Sareo, was featured in a recent New York Magazine article. The story provides a compelling account of her accident and rehabilitation, as well as the stories of two other central actors in the accident that led to her amputation. Visit: http://newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/news/people/features/9951/index.html to read the story.

If you want to see Theresa do her thang on stage, visit www.theresasareo.com for a complete list of her upcoming gigs.