From back to the Future

Not so long ago I lost my arm in a traumatic experience where I could've very nearly lost my life. It was an incident that happened where I was maybe at the wrong place at the wrong time? I had worked in the Fire Service for more than 26 years when I was off shift one day & was leaving the gym. Two men over powered me, put a bag over my head, whilst I cried saying they could take my car, mobile phone & purse (which had $500 in it). They tied me up all the while I kept trying to get away but then they dragged me up a slight embankment & proceeded to tie my arm to what felt like was cold steal - this turned out to be the railway line right next to the gym.

I thought that they were going to just scare me, but it turned out to be very real. I felt the vibration of the track & heard the siren of the train intensify as it got closer & before I knew it, my arm was amputated. It wasn’t the poor train drivers fault bcoz when the train came out of the tunnel & he saw me, he pulled the breaks on so hard but he had no hope of pulling up 7 carriages on board in time before he ran over my arm!

Once the train impacted on my arm I was freed from the track & rolled down the slight embankment. I pulled the bag off my head & the 2 men were no where in sight but I could see what was remaining of my arm - the rest of it lay under the train. I was in excruciating pain & tried to steady myself only to find my hand touch my mobile phone. The men in their haste in running off had dropped my mobile phone! I knew I had to dial 000 immediately or else bleed out.

THE REASON FOR MY MY CAMPAIGN:

Is that I would like to be someone who can speak to an audience from experience about the affects of chronic PTSD & also be a motivational speaker when it comes to talking about the transition from having to face life with a prothesis. A number of years ago I picked up my new bionic arm & am amazed at just what it’s like to finally have an arm, a wrist & 5 fingers to use. It was all very new to me at first & the technology is just so far advanced that I could ever had hoped for. --

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NOVEMBER 2023

Since the launch of my campaign a few years ago I have just recently been fortunate to have upgraded to a new arm/hand & the technology is far more advanced than the B Bionic hand I had a few years ago. It’s all very new to me at present & the technology is just so far advanced that I could ever had hoped for.

I opted for the charcoal / black / cream colour this time & I think it looks great. On the back of the hand is a small window that tells you what ‘grip pattern’ I’m currently using which is great, as well as a small button to press which locks you into the grip you’re using (prevents your hand from suddenly opening if you don’t want it to!).

The COVVI hand is made in the UK & we initially met with the representative who came & showed it off to me & my Prosthetic Technician Eli at the Amputee Clinic in Caulfield Hospital many months ago. He pointed out the real potential for using this hand & that was the way that you can change grip patterns easily by squeezing the tip of the thumb & it’s supposed to change grip patterns!

Upon having it for a number of months now I have found that this simple action - isn’t so easy to do at all!! So we are working with the Company to see what can be done about this! Another issue is that the back plate on the back of the hand easily cracks & the black rubber skin easily tares!!

And another issue most of us amputees have to deal with in wearing a prosthetic limb in the hot weather is the build up of perspiration & this can make my arm slip off (bcoz of the weight of the limb itself & this is quite embarrassing)! This just means that my Prosthetic Technician needs to make an adjustment to the fitting of the arm itself.

I will keep posting updates to let everyone know how things go in talks with the Team who are working with me to ensure that I get the best results possible. So far I’ve been very impressed with the new technology & once we iron out these few small issues everything will be sweet.

Another thing this year that I’ve had to deal with is multiple surgeries. The year I lost my arm I had a major car accident where my car was clipped by another car & I spun out of control hitting a tree. I broke both legs, R hip, both ankles & smashed my pelvis. So this year I’ve had surgery on my ankles, & also to remove my bladder which was damaged in the car accident.

Every 3 months I go into hospital for a whole week to have Ketamine Infusion Treatment. This helps with the Phantom Limb Nerve Pain which most amputees experience. This can be quite excruciating, like mine runs through the palm of my hand & the last 3 fingers like electric shocks - day & night!! By having this treatment it takes away the Nerve Pain for the whole 3 months without having to use any daily pain medication.