I want my life after amputation to inspire others

Beginning treatment 

I started my chemo on December 1^st at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. For the first cycle I was exhausted and had nausea and vomiting for ten days straight. I had two cycles and was in hospital continuously until the end of February 2023.

I had an MRI before my surgery and the MRI showed that there was “potential tumour” in my thigh due to the break and so a hip disarticulation was the best option to ensure none was left behind. This meant that I needed an amputation which removed my left hip joint as well as my leg.

By now, I had been in a hospital bed for three months and I couldn’t stand up, so I was just ready for an operation, and I thought I’d deal with it afterwards. My mum took it really hard. As they were wheeling me out for the operation, I could see her eyes filling up with tears and she was trying not to show she was upset. She was happier when I came out afterwards and she saw I was ok. It was the first time I’d had surgery, so it was a big deal for her.

After the operation in March 2023, I spent a week in hospital recovering. I was allowed home for a bit before having my last bit of chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

They decided to let my wound heel a bit before I got my prosthetic, and I received it in August 2023. I had to spend another two weeks in hospital learning how to walk with it and took it home with me at the start of September. I’m getting pretty good at walking with it now. If I’m out I will use a walking stick, but if I am at home, I can walk around without it.

How Teenage Cancer Trust’s Clinical Nurse Specialist Amanda helped

Amanda first introduced herself to me over a phone call after my diagnosis. She told me she was a Clinical Nurse Specialist for Teenage Cancer Trust and that she was there to help me with anything I needed.

Without Amanda, my cancer journey would’ve been completely different. She encouraged me to talk about how I was feeling right from the beginning, and she has helped me with so many questions and other things. She also introduced me to other young people, which has been really valuable. If it wasn’t for Amanda I would’ve struggled far more with my emotions and my queries, and I wouldn’t have had the opportunities to meet others in a similar situation to me. She’s helped such a lot, and she’s always cheerful and happy to chat with me or to listen.

Life after amputation and still following my dreams

I used to love cycling and I’d go out for 20-mile bike rides as well as biking to school and to the farm for work experience. We have lots of lovely country roads near my house and I’d go out for the day by myself. One of my first thoughts after my diagnosis was: Will I be able to cycle again?

I’ve already tried to get on the bike without my prosthetic, but I couldn’t bring my peddle back up. I’ve adapted it to have toe clips and I’ve added some weight to the other peddle to even me out. I’ve also got a wider saddle to help distribute the weight. I’m determined that the amputation won’t stop me getting back on my bike and I can’t wait to get out and explore the countryside again.

I carried on studying during my treatment using paperwork from friends and past papers. My dream has always been to be a vet and I was doing work experience on a cattle farm when I was diagnosed. I’ve looked into it, and I can still become a vet as long as I can restrain animals. I’m going to make my dream come true and I’ll show other people who need amputations that you can still carry on and do what you want to do.

Helping other amputees 

I also want to help other people who have had amputations or are due to have the operation. An amputee came to visit me in hospital before I had my surgery and chatting to her about her experience really helped. She reassured me and my mum, who was really worried. She’d made a scrapbook of her journey and I’ve started to make one myself. It has pictures from before my diagnosis, the X-Rays and scans and pictures of me now.

Her visit made me want to pay it forward and meet other people and help them. I went to see someone who was about to have either limb salvage surgery, or an amputation and I talked to her about my amputation and how I was coping. I answered some of her questions and hopefully helped them make a decision. I also went to see someone who was in rehabilitation. I showed her how well I was able to walk on my prosthetic and helped to reassure her that they would still be able to do things. I think it really helped her.

I want to keep meeting people who may need to have surgery or who are struggling with rehabilitation so that I can help them come to terms with it and give them advice. I’m going to take my scrapbook along when it is finished.

I’ll also talk about everything that I am still able to do, like my cycling, to show them that it does not need to take away everything they are passionate about.

Getting back to celebrating Christmas

I was in hospital for three months straight including over Christmas 2022. My sister and I have a tradition where we decorate the tree together, but I couldn’t go home to do it. Instead, my sister showed me a picture of the tree. It made me really sad that I couldn’t join in.

My mum, dad and sister came and spent Christmas Day with me in hospital. It wasn’t the Christmas I had expected but we tried to make the most of it. Someone came round with a trolley of presents and a Santa came in. We opened presents and had Christmas Dinner and then they went home to have food with my grandma.

@teenagecancertrust

Abbie had to spend last Christmas in hospital after she had was diagnosed with osteosarcoma and had her leg amputated. This year, she was determined to decorate the Christmas tree 💙🎄✨

♬ Deck The Halls (PD Cover) - BLVKSHP

I’m looking forward to spending this Christmas at home and I think I will appreciate it more. I’ve never looked forward to Christmas so much and I am going to make the most of every moment. It’s my job to put the lights on the tree, so that may be harder this year with me trying to balance with my prosthetic leg, but I am determined to do it.

I can’t wait to be in a cosy room, with the tree decorated and scented candles burning. I’m also looking forward to going Christmas shopping as I had to do it all online last year. I like choosing presents in person and being able to see what I am getting. It makes picking presents more special.