In the last segment of the show Karen talked about the preceding year. During that time she did something she never expected to do after her accident, she starred in there movies. One of them was “A Pressed Hand” where she played Lou. The second one was a movie about Donna Kirk an LAE/RBK on “Amputation and Widowhood – Self inflicted.” I worked with several doubles including Susan to get the RBK scenes. The third was a woman who rolled a car and lost her arm at the shoulder.

Patti asked about the movies. “Well as you know I took off two weeks for each of them. The shooting was pretty intense. Each of them had some interesting challenges.”

“How is that?” Patti was asking the right questions.

“Well. Lou is an RBE amputee, I am an RAE. They had to fit me with a prosthetic elbow that had a stump like Lou’s on the end. They actually took a cast of Lou’s lower arm and molded a stump from it and fitted it to an elbow like mine.” She rolled up her sleeve. “They kept it so that if I do another BE part I can use the elbow with a different stump. Had them give it to me for today.” She wiggled the end of the stump and looked at it. “I have to tell you a story. Just after she was on the show I saw Denise in a mall. She was on crutches and wearing a BK appliance like this, she was doing the dirt biking movie of Susan’s life and needed to get accustomed to it.” Karen laughed. “Denise can make something good out of anything. She was going down the mall wiggling her stump and watching guys look. She was also wearing some other appliances at the time that were needed to look more like Susan. Let’s just say that D’s attract guys.”

Patti laughed.

“Well one of the guys that was attracted by either the stump, the other appliances of both tried to get to know her and she told him to get lost. As she did one of the appliances slipped out of it’s pocket and on the floor. He picked it up before anyone could see it and shielded her on the way to the restroom. When she came out he was still there waiting for her. He told her he wanted to see her, not the extras. She agreed to have dinner with him, went home, changed and he picked her up. They ate together, she liked him but to be safe the next day she had him checked out. She found out that he is a dot com executive her age. He has fallen head over heels for her. And she has for him. I haven’t heard of wedding plans yet but both of them are saying it will happen when the time is right. Right now she is making movies, having fun. He has gotten permission to be on the set when he has time. He treats her like a gem.”

“And I have to tell you one more story before we end. Denise will be playing Janice in a movie about the Higgens family, they should be shooting it soon and I think release is scheduled for about nine months. They needed two amputees, one had to be a little older. Denise went to Fritz and had them approach the Higgens family about three months after they were on the show. They signed to allow the story to be made. Because of the two amputees who were headliners Fritz had no idea how to do the movie at the time. Denise suggested they send the three women who worked with me off for acting lessons, all three agreed. Carol will be playing Julie but Fritz has been so pleased with the other two that he has scheduled them for parts and has put them on an extra’s list he has that allows them to work other films. All three have appeared in something, all have had minor speaking parts and are thrilled with it. Denise saw something good there and suggested it. Denise wants Fritz to do one movie with each of them as the lead, possibly using some other well known cast members to help. About three months ago he had a poll taken. Carol Dart was as well known as all but his top actresses. She finished below Denise, Sandra Ball, Jan George and three other long term people. Susan and Debbie finished in the next eight. Lou was in the top twenty five. He told us that he thought the tours were a good idea. He never thought they would be that good.”

By the end of the show they reported that the link to the names of the doctors was on their web page. In addition there was a link to Dr. Davis’ web page so they could check on a doctor who claimed to be trained in this surgery in case some name was missed.

******

This is the end of Karen. If you have not read Denise, Sandra, and Jan the rest of the story is there. As this is written on June 16, 2008 I see this set of stories being ended with the conclusion of Denise. Some day I may do Janice or Julie, maybe some others that have appeared and seemed to just disappear. I could do a whole story about Dr. Davis. But I have several ideas for other stories.

Karen: Chapter One – The Attack

Karen Chapter 42 – Two Years Later Julie and Janice

Other novels by Ralph Brandt…

Alpha Four Chapter 01: Two Autopsies

Denise Chapter 01: Success in Hollywood

Jan Chapter 01: School Days

Karen: Chapter One – The Attack

Kathy’s Legs: Chapter One, The Accident

Laura Chapter 1

Sandra Chapter 01: the Accident

The First Family: Chapter 1 – Introduction

The Handshue Sect 1

The Night Sniper Chapter One: On the Beat

World War II – a Novel Chapter One