In June 1997, I was in the middle of my Leaving Certificate and it seemed the most important thing in the world. Little did I know how much my life would change! I was burnt in a fire and lost both my legs and my right hand. I fought for my life and woke a month later to this awful news. I was in hospital for five months and though the doctors feared that my skin was too damaged to walk with prosthetic limbs, I went to rehabilitation to try my best.
Physiotherapy everyday was physically tough and learning to walk again seemed, at times, impossible. I persisted, even though my skin would sometimes blister and break and I was so tired I thought I would never withstand the weight of the limbs. I pushed myself and gradually got stronger. By the time I re-sat my Leaving Certificate a year later, I was walking well and writing my own exams with my left hand (even though I’m still right handed!). Now, seven years after the accident, I’ve gotten an honours degree from Dublin City University and I’m currently working in a challenging job. My walking is so good these days that most people don’t believe me when I tell them I have three prosthetic limbs! In the beginning, it seemed like such a huge mountain to climb but I took it step by slow step and got there in the end.
Seonaid Dunne.
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John's Story [received March'04]
I was involved in a motorcycle accident in 2002.I was 32 at the time,with a wife and young family.In the accident I lost my foot.A few days later the surgeon amputated the rest of my lower leg ,about six inches below my knee,to enable a prosthesis to be fitted.I was'nt sure what the future held in store for me.I did'nt know what a prostesis looked like,what help was available or whether I would walk again.I asked my surgeon would I ever be able to play football.He said of course I would.This surprised me as I have never played before.
Since that time I learned to walk again,fairly quickly with the help of a good prosthetist and a good physiotherapist.I'm gradually adjusting to a new life with a prosthesis. I know it's not the case for everyone but it took a matter of months before I was able to return to work and I find I can do most things that I once did.I have had a small adaptation to my car which means I can get around like I used to. I'm still at the beginning of adjusting to what has happened to me but I have found great sources of help available in almost all aspects of my life.
