SPINAL SUPPORT OFFERED NONPROFIT GROUP BRANCHES OUT INTO SANTA CLARITA.Byline: Sharon Cotal Staff Writer VALENCIA - People whose lives have been changed by spinal cord injuries Spinal Cord Injury Definition Spinal cord injury is damage to the spinal cord that causes loss of sensation and motor control. Description Approximately 10,000 new spinal cord injuries (SCIs) occur each year in the United States. now have a place to go to share ideas, learn about resources and meet other people with similar experiences in Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, . When You Need Group Support, a nonprofit organization Nonprofit Organization An association that is given tax-free status. Donations to a non-profit organization are often tax deductible as well. Notes: Examples of non-profit organizations are charities, hospitals and schools. that has served the needs of people with spinal cord injuries for the past 10 years in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. , has branched out to Santa Clarita with a support group that meets at 6:30 p.m. the first Tuesday First Tuesday is a networking forum for technology entrepreneurs, companies seeking venture capital, investors and related service providers. Founded in 1998, First Tuesday now has 38,000 members and the 10 branches across Europe host meetings on the first Tuesday every month. of each month at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital. ``A lot of people with spinal cord injuries just couldn't get down to the San Fernando Valley for the meetings we hold there,'' said WYNGS program director Michele Altamirano. ``We chose the hospital as the site for the new meetings because it is centrally located in Santa Clarita and has wheelchair accessibility.'' People tend to leave the hospital uneducated and unprepared after a spinal cord injury and are not sure where to turn for help, Altamirano said. ``Your life has changed completely, and then you're home from the hospital and you haven't really processed what has happened. So talking to Noun 1. talking to - a lengthy rebuke; "a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline"; "the teacher gave him a talking to" lecture, speech rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval - an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to other people who have had similar experiences can be very helpful,'' she said. WYNGS was founded by Joy Aroff after her son, Steven, was injured in a construction accident. It started as a fund-raising organization to provide for the unmet needs of people living with paralysis, then the support groups were added seven years ago. ``We're here to help provide those day-to-day needs that people often can't supply for themselves because they simply don't have the resources,'' Altamirano said. The next meeting of the WYNGS support group will be Nov. 7 in the Rehabilitation rehabilitation: see physical therapy. Physical Therapy Gym on the first floor of the Nursing Pavilion Building at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, 25727 McBean Parkway, Valencia. For information, call WYNGS at (818) 888-3209. |
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