Prosthesis Build Up....

So last week was our first visit to the Amputee Clinic.  It is a world within it's own.  A room of amputees at varying stages of their rehabilitation.  All of these people can give each other something that an able bodied person cannot.  Complete understanding of the pain, the loss, the restrictions, the capabilities, the fluctuating mind space.... and the knowledge that they are not alone in this journey.   We were blessed to have time with our good friend Leah, already an amputee, particularly through her recent journey of Osseointegration.  Her experience and insight has given Matt so much to prepare himself with and her knowledge of the government bodies has been a blessing to my part of this journey.

Matt believed he was getting fitted for a Prosthetic limb last week and we left with a stump shrinker.  Disheartening to say the least, and more of that 'limbo' stage.  Then a call came from Katrina, the physiotherapist who measures/gauges limbs and who apologised profusely for not being there last week as she'd had a car accident that day.  She was OK, her kids weren't in the car so all was good!!!  So, measuring happened on Wednesday.  Matt goes in again next Tuesday or Wednesday to be remeasured and if those measurements haven't changed alot, then Thursday morning 9am is the Prosthesis fitting.  Sooooooooooooooooooooo exciting!

Katrina is this super knowledgable, good humoured woman who seems down to earth and very real in all of this.  She was so impressed with our Physiotherapist, Jenny O'Neill, that she couldn't help but mention this on a few occasions.  She'd even like to bring Jenny in to the hospital when Matt has his 1st session with a Prosthesis so they can all be on the same page - but I really think that she really, really, really wants to meet Jen!  We couldn't recommend a physiotherapist highly enough either.  Even back when Matt had his accident, she did home visits, she was on his mental space, not just his physio work and progress.  She remains an inspiration as a human being, a therapist, a Dr in form and a cross over as a friend to our family.  She's is nothing short of amazing!

Sorry, back to Katrina at the Nepean Amputee Clinic!  Katrina's reassurance for Matt and this decision, this journey, this new lifestyle is so positive.... so fresh compared to NDIS, Enable talk, Dr's and hospital rehab.  The inspiration is there, the good vibes, the knowledge and experience and being straight up.  Brilliant.  The fact that she's impressed and inspired to be working "with" Jen, as she puts it, is perfect.  I don't know how we got so lucky with these people who are part of this stage of our lives and this journey but very grateful.  And I think Katrina is going to be part of Matt's life for a very long time to come yet!

Stay tuned for Prosthesis Clinic Updates next week....