Sue's staying true to herself

I am looking forward to my future, even at 69 years of age there is so much more to explore. I invite anyone who has had or is going to have an amputation to stay true to who you are, you are not defined by your amputation, you are defined by your reaction to your new circumstance.

I was 32, fit, healthy, wildly in love with life, when I was hit by a car. I was a long-distance cyclist on my easy 20 kilometre ride to work. I was in full reflective gear, in a well-marked cycle lane and was blithely unaware of the driver coming through the stop sign, on my left - to beat the traffic.

I was hit and lay on the roadside with attending local work place employees racing to assist and the inevitable ride in the ambulance to the nearest emergency hospital. I didn’t know it at the time but my left leg below the knee had sustained some pretty severe damage, and my ankle was pretty well crushed.

I came to and was slow to realise the absolute carnage that had occurred in my life. The surgery standards at the time were to reinforce the shin bone with internal titanium screws (17) and a rod fitted to the length of my shin.

After some time in the ICU ward and then a further three months, in the general ward, I then experienced a further 365 days of intense outpatient physio and was told I would never walk unaided again.

Fast forward to my 67th year and whilst I was still healthy and fit, I had come through years of leg surgeries, years of limited activity and years of the inevitable type 2 diabetes complications. I was never overweight, never a smoker, a very mild alcoholic imbiber and was always conscious of eating the right foods and staying - as much as possible - in control of my diabetes type 2 – genetically inherited condition.

As my leg was severely scarred, I’m talking ankle to knee and many surgical scars from trying to get my ankle to move more, I was in constant pain and limped severely. My left leg was 2 inches shorter, withered and very unsightly. Yet I managed to keep working, raised two young men and just got on with life.

My first experience of amputation came with my left third toe being taken in 2017. It had become infected, after years of being my main point of contact for that foot, as my foot was severely twisted and out of shape. I recovered from that and hobbled around for the years that followed as best I could. But the writing was on the wall!

In January 2024 I went to the podiatrist clinic at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital for what I thought was a routine check. The podiatrist was extremely concerned on examination, as they had penetrated to the bone with their instrument. Of course, I had such bad nerve damage from the original accident that the combination of type 2 diabetes meant I had no real sensation at all in the underside of my foot.

The surgical staff consulted and after being told that they could take that part of my foot on the diagonal - I was very distraught – as the section they would take was the mangled section that had sustained my weight for the last 36 years and if it was surgically removed, I would have no contact of any sort with the ground.

I discussed the situation with the medical staff, the surgeons, and my family. After this consideration I decided I would be better off with the leg being amputated below the knee. So, for those who aren’t aware - this was then designated non-emergency, optional amputation. Even though I was admitted immediately to the hospital and my condition was such that I was being intravenously delivered antibiotics for the infection.

Now…this is where my story begins. And as in all stories we need context, hence the prefacing information. This is my amputation story.

I had the next three weeks in OPH and during that time I felt completely cared for, respected and encouraged to get moving. My first holding the bars and standing upright with my bandaged residual limb was so liberating – I know this may seem odd – but I was no longer encumbered with a dead, withered below the knee limb. I was looking forward to the healing, and ‘new normal’ although the first attempt at using the ‘shrinker’ left me shaken and I nearly fainted from the pain and pressure.

The hospital staff were so encouraging, from the nursing staff to the physios and - for me – the respect and encouragement from Naomi, the counsellor was exemplary. I cannot state in sufficient words the impact everyone there made on my amputation journey.

I returned home. My place having been fitted out for wheelchair access, bathroom and w.c. disability access and I was ready for the next stage.

I then had twice weekly outpatient physio, which was @#@$ hard, but necessary. There were days when I thought I just can’t do this. There were days when I thought, too easy! Remember apart from the healing process – I was now pain free – and anyone who has experienced this relief, will understand the exhilaration this brings with it.

I could now transfer in and out of transport vehicles, on and off my bed, in and out of the shower and for me – more importantly – I could manage getting to the loo unaided WOOHOO!

I began slowly with the fitting of my initial prosthesis and had to learn to trust that it could take my weight and even while I was still using my walking stick – which had been my constant aid for many, many years, I was confident that I could get around sufficiently to be my old independent self.

I took advantage of all of the available government funded physio situations and the once-a-week physio at Scarborough added to - with, Integrated Sports Solutions, who had just started a free once a week walking group and their - minimal payment, in house physio services, made my weeks of rehab fly by.

I had reached the stage when I was fitted for my new prosthesis and once this was sorted, I had another ‘level up’ experience of confidence and began working really hard on my gait, my endurance and eventually my putting my walking stick away for good.

With the encouragement and participation of Integrated, namely – Kyra and OAPL superstar, Rebekah and with the initial challenge set down by Noel, Integrated’s best ambassador, I entered the HBF ‘Walk for a Reason’ event. Rebekah from OAPL and Kyra from Integrated had both said they would walk with me on the day. Once again surrounded by two wonderful volunteers I set out for the walk. I was still using my walking stick at the time, but I was determined to finish the course.

The last 20 minutes of the course, the heavens opened up and we three were drenched and laughing as we neared the very muddy finish line. But for me, it was like winning a gold medal. The getting back to the pick-up point was interesting as my prosthesis had copped some rain and I was squeaking and squishing by then. No problem, Rebekah sat me in the bus stop shelter we pulled the prosthesis off, she emptied it, dried it, and we refitted it while the other walkers wandered by looking with interest at us.

Fast forward again…

I am now back at archery after a 20-year hiatus. I am walking three to five kilometres – UNAIDED – every second or third day. I am enrolled with the wonderful people at The Vines, “Golfing for All Abilities’ where I have absolutely loved becoming a part of the group.

This attitude has led me to Limbs 4 Life. I encourage everyone to keep reaching out for guidance and support. This has not been easy for this determined and very independent old chook, but I have learned that asking for assistance and seeking respect is truly an enriching experience.

Thank you to every single one of those who have been with me on my amputee journey.