How losing a leg gave Lucas his life back

Before 2007, I was a fit, active guy living life at full throttle. 

I worked physical jobs from hospital theatre technician to security, and stayed on my feet most of the day, usually dodging trouble or pushing gurneys (sometimes both). Life was busy, but I loved it. Then, in February 2007, the wheels quite literally came off. I had a motorcycle accident that smashed both my arms, broke some ribs, and shattered various other bones. But the true overachiever of the day was my left leg, which decided to fall apart like a dodgy IKEA shelf. I spent two months in hospital and then four months in a wheelchair. That was just the beginning. The next 17 years turned into a full-time game of ‘how many surgeries can one leg have before it taps out?’ Spoiler: around 40 operations including fusions, grafts, and enough metal to set off every airport scanner in the country. Pain was constant. Walking was agony. Life? Exhausting.

Then, in 2021, I went to an event that should've been a good time... but wasn't. 

By the end of the day, I couldn't walk. I was clinging to furniture like a drunk uncle at a wedding. It took me three days to recover, just from standing and existing. That was the moment. I knew something had to change. I spoke to my orthopaedic surgeon and said, "What if we just... took it off?" He referred me to a plastic surgeon, and suddenly I was collecting specialists like Pokémon cards - rehab doctors, prosthetists, psychologists, and even other amputees. Thankfully, everyone agreed. Amputation would give me my life back.

So, in August 2023, I said “goodbye” to my leg. And honestly? Best decision I've ever made. 

After surgery, I spent a week in hospital. The staff didn't have to teach me how to use crutches or a wheelchair - I was already a veteran. Seven weeks later, I headed to rehab. I went in on a Thursday, got handed my prosthetic leg Friday (like a party favour you don't expect), and the following Thursday they told me I could head home. One week. That's all it took. From there, I followed my rehab team's instructions like they were gospel. I wasn't about to mess things up by rushing it - I'd fought too hard for this chance. My biggest fear wasn't pain anymore; it was losing my freedom by damaging my stump. And the reward? A brand new life. I'm happier, more mobile, and living pain-free for the first time in years. I don't need three days to recover from a simple outing anymore. I can actually do things again. Setting goals helped keep me motivated, and my biggest one? To ride a motorcycle around Australia. After thinking that dream had died long ago, I got back on a bike in November 2023, just a few months post-op. Then, in June 2024, I hit the road for real - completing half a lap of Australia via the west coast and back through the centre. It was a bucket list adventure I never imagined possible... until I lost the leg.

After the ride, I had a quick stump revision surgery to clean up the skin graft and remove excess tissue from where my leg had shrunk. My stump is so small that it looks like it belongs on someone else's body. My next adventure? Mexico and Colombia where I swam in cenotes, went quad biking around volcanoes, and lived like the old me - only better, because this version of me didn’t have constant pain holding him back.

In March this year, I road-tripped to Adelaide for Limbs 4 Life’s AMPed Up event. It was incredible. I learned new tricks, met amazing people, and left feeling more inspired than ever. Massive thanks to Melissa and the team for putting on such a great event! I'll be back. 

So, here I am with one leg down, and a whole life gained. No more constant pain. No more waiting three days to recover from a simple outing. Just freedom, adventure, and the open road. Thanks for reading my story. I hope to read yours soon.