What’s your name, how old are you? My name is Sarah Woods and I am 44 years old.
Who lives with you and how old are they? Tell us a little bit about them what are their favourite hobbies? I live with my boyfriend Rex, we have lived together for 7 years in May. Rex loves gaming weather it be on the computer or on the PlayStation so that keeps him busy and he uses it as a distraction from his pain (rex has chronic fatigue syndrome).
When did you become an amputee? I became a amputee in November 2017 after years if pain and deformity of my right leg caused by Dystonia, My foot was on its side facing backwards which had resulted in permanently dislocating my knee so after 9 years of pain the Docs decided above knee amputation was the best option.
Have you got a name for your “stump”? I’m not very imaginative so my leg is just referred to as Stumpy but we refure to my left arm as Squishy (named by my coach). I do have the nickname bitbroken however given to me many years ago.
What was the biggest concern of being an amputee? My biggest concern of being a amputee is that I will never get the hang of walking long distances unaided. My biggest challenge is getting around unaided and independently as I spend a lot of my time in my wheelchair, that I can not push properly as I can only use one arm and one leg due to having dystonia in my left arm too (dystonia is all over my body now).
How do you spend your days? I spend most of my days reading, model making, crafting or chilling out in front of the tv at the moment but normally i love to be out and about visiting new places, especially love to be by the sea. I cant wait to be able to paddle again.
What’s been the biggest challenge you have had to overcome and how did you overcome it? Before my amputation i was rifle shooting as part of the GB development squad, representing my country around the world and winning a few medals along the way and trying to win a place to go to a Paralympic games, this is my ultimate goal. I haven’t been able to get back to training since my amputation due to additional health issues that have occurred since my operation and also due to not being independent in my mobility but I am trying to overcome these issues. I would love to get back training and start competing again soon.
Have you got any funny memories that have happened since your amputation? I can’ think of many funny things about my amputation but I do love to make people laugh and try not to take things to serious, so I will do silly things, like when I hospital getting dressed up as a pirate with eye patch and parrot. It is usually me causing mayhem in my physio sessions to. I am 2 years down the road since my amputation and still trying to get a socket to fit and can’t wait to get my new one after lock down, so hopefully will be back on 2 feet.
When did you come across Steel Bones? What does Steel Bones do for your family? I came across Steel Bones after seeing a poster at clinic 9 at Addenbrooke’s during one of my appointments last year and decided to look them up and it was the best thing I have done. Steel bones has given me a community of friends and made me feel less alone, knowing others are going through exactly the same as me.
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