James's Recovery

Hi, I’m James,

On the morning of 1st September 2024, I suffered life-changing injuries:

A mid to distal comminuted, open femur fracture with degloving.

In simple terms, my thigh bone shattered and pierced through the skin, and the muscle tissue was stripped from the bone. Since then, I’ve undergone multiple complex surgeries—seven in total—including a procedure where part of my calf muscle was used to rebuild the large hole in my thigh. Metal rods, a plate and a cage were fitted to hold everything in place, along with an organic cement spacer to fill the gap in my femur.

On 26th September, I was re-admitted to hospital with a serious infection and placed on strong IV antibiotics. It was then that the possibility of an above-knee amputation was first discussed.

Despite everything, I kept pushing forward, and on 10th December 2024, I underwent my 7th surgery: a bone graft procedure in the hope of salvaging my leg. But after months of pain, immobility, and finally a mechanical failure of the titanium plate, I’ve now made the difficult decision to go ahead with an above-knee amputation.

Today—22nd April 2025—I’m heading into my 8th surgery, a transfemoral amputation.

It’s a life-altering decision, but one I’ve made to take back control of my future. This is not about giving up—it’s about creating the best possible chance for a life with less pain and more mobility.

What comes next will be tough. I’ll be learning to walk again from scratch with a prosthetic limb, which means long-term rehabilitation, extensive physiotherapy, and major lifestyle changes. I’m currently unemployed, and not driving until I can get my car converted to hand controls, so I rely on friends, family, and taxis to get to hospital, the supermarket , medical appointments physio and rehab.

This fundraiser is here to support me through recovery. Your donations go toward:

• Travel to and from hospital and physiotherapy

• Home adaptations (including a walk-in/disabled shower)

• Living costs while I’m out of work

• A long-term fund for a microprocessor knee and other prosthetic needs

Thank you for reading—and thank you so much to those who have supported me since this journey began. I’m facing the hardest challenge of my life, but I’m surrounded by brilliant medical staff, family, friends, and kind strangers who remind me I’m not doing it alone.

This isn’t the end. It’s a new beginning.

I will overcome this—I just need some help along the way.