The Day my life changed

The day my life changed!

26th November 2009 I woke feeling sick which quickly turned into vomiting. Being a Mother of 2 children Sam aged 7 and Jade aged 3 (at the time) I naturally thought I had picked up a bug. I don't remember much of the day, little snippets and the gaps filled in by family and friends. By 5pm I was ambulanced to Palmerston North hospital where it was diagnosed that I had contracted meningococcal septicemia.

Within minutes of arriving at hospital 70% of my body was black also my body was 4 times bigger than normal due to the fact that internally I was hemorrhaging from every organ and my blood was toxic. After being transferred to ICU, my family and friends were being prepared for the grim outcome.

2% chance of survival, the most aggressive case ICU department had ever seen.

I was put into an induced coma, and minute by minute I worsened, my kidneys shut down and my temperature was so high my organs were basically cooking. I was on every drug known to man and remarkably after a few short term memory issues I suffered no brain damage.

5 weeks of being in ICU the decision was made for me to be transferred to Lower Hutt. It was here that I underwent the amputations of both my legs (below knee) most of my left hand and all but 2 finger tips. Along with enduring the amputations I underwent extensive skin grafting on most of my body and dialysis due to my kidneys still being completely shut down. This in its self was so pain full as the drugs given for pain relief were being washed out by the dialysis.

Medical professionals' prognosis was I would be in hospital for a year, unlikely to walk again due to damage on my legs and unlikely to work again.

I wasn't happy with what was said, some call me stubborn. I left hospital at 4 months, stood on my prosthesis at 5 months and back to work at 6 months.

Learning to walk again:

Due to that fact Penny's disability is medical she does not qualify for ACC which means she is funded through the government medical system. This meant funding was limited and basic.

Because Penny works home help was cut, she doesn't qualify for things like an access ramp, equipment to make things easier and her prosthetic legs were the basic of basic due to the limited funding.

Penny's legs never fit 100% the sockets are hard and dig in, thick silicone liners must be worn due to the grafting but leaves her legs hot, sweaty and irritated, because they don't fit they are bulked up with socks to fill the gaps.

The components of the legs are basic, no ankle movement so walking on uneven surfaces, up or down hills or stairs are a challenge so she requires assistance. Penny is unlike many amputees, she is on her legs from the moment she gets up to the moment she goes to bed.

Osseointegration:

Osseointegration is a life changing surgery where an implant is inserted into your Bone and then the prosthesis clicks onto that. This technology has got wheelchair bound people walking and would mean for Penny that she has no more uncomfortable sockets, no silicone liners and certainly no issues with legs not fitting and being bulked up with

socks.

Mobility wise Penny will be able to walk on uneven surfaces, up and down hills and her quality of life will improve 100%.

For more information Osseointegration have a look at:

www.osseointegationaustralia.com.au

Recently Penny met with Doctor Munjed AL Muderis from Sydney Australia who is the leading surgeon around the world for Osseointegration. He invited Penny to have xrays and bone density scans to see if she was suitable to have the surgery. Excitingly she is, it would mean 6 weeks in Sydney for the operation and rehabilitation.

In New Zealand Penny doesn't qualify for this type of operation as she is not an ACC client and there is no doctor in NZ who has performed this operation on a below knee amputee.

In NZ there has been above knée amputees have the surgery but they are all funded through ACC.

This is an unfair system, all New Zealanders should have equal opportunity to improve their life it should not matter if you are an ACC client or not. Penny works and pays ACC Levies like everyone.

Dr AL Muderis has very kindly donated the implants to Penny which has saved an incredible amount of money and so to have this life changing operation

Penny needs to raise $75,000.

Penny will be the first below knee New Zealander to have this operation.

If you would like to help Penny have this life changing operation all donations would be greatly appreciated.