Breakers Bar and Grill, 1069 Main St., Northampton, hosted a gathering of special people July 17 for fellowship and support. Breakers owner Kevin Lukman, of Whitehall and originally from Northampton, was contacted by St. Luke’s Hospital staff to allow a support group for people with amputations to gather, have fun and shoot pool.

Mike Sutherland, a patient advocate for people in the St. Luke’s amputee program, is involved in organizing support group gatherings for amputee survivors to meet in fellowship to exchange experiences and learn from each other.

Marianne Dorsey, of Bethlehem and a nurse with the St. Luke’s amputee program, assisted with the gathering at Breakers. She wore a smile throughout the afternoon.

Also on hand was Mark Bucci, a prosthetist from Kutztown. A prothestist is a professional who designs, measures, constructs and fits custom artificial limbs and any body parts known as prostheses for patients dealing with limb loss or congenital limb differences. The goal is to help individuals regain mobility and independence.

Rachel Walters, a pool professional and two-time Super Billiards Expo Women’s Division Champion, was the star of the gathering as she provided tips on improving attendees’ games. Walters has won five other pool tournaments in the last three years. Her low-key teaching demeanor was appreciated by all present.

RJ Delp, of Saylorsburg; Rick Kemp, of Bethlehem Township; Charles Colver, of Lenhartsville, and others played pool during the afternoon as some in the gathering sipped adult beverages while others had soft drink refreshments. The friendship and goodwill expressed during the three-hour gathering among attendees was clear, evident and appreciated by all.

St. Luke’s University Health Network offers a comprehensive, CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehab Facilities) accredited amputee rehabilitation program. The rehab program’s care spans inpatient acute recovery, specialized outpatient physical therapy, prosthetic fitting and ongoing follow-up as needed including the support group services.

Formerly Kornfeind’s Bar and Grille, Breakers offers pub-style food, drinks, fellowship, pool tables and weekend live music. It has a relaxed ambience patrons enjoy.

Pool originated in 15th-century Europe as an outdoor lawn game similar to croquet and played by nobility. When pool moved indoors, it was adapted to tables with green felt to simulate grass.

The term “pool” comes from 19th-century American horse-racing betting rooms known as poolrooms, where the game of billiards was played to pass the time between horse races.