We are delighted to introduce you to the latest member of our team – John Whitman who will be coordinating our local meet ups, supporting the meet ups teams and planning some awesome events and activities for us all. here’s a little but about John:
Hi My name is John Whitman
I’m 41 years old and live with my partner Leila and our son Noah even though he’s in his second year of university studying Film and Media Production and photography.
Myself and Leila both Show ,breed dogs and Judge at a high level around the world.
I left school at 16 years old to train to become a Farrier I Qualified as a Farrier and Equine Podiatrist and Blacksmith.
I used to make bespoke metal work.
My hobbies before were showing the dogs, I used to do Archery and from school till my mid late 20’s played at a very high level of Rugby both Union and League.
In September 2020 I unfortunately had a work place accident to my right hand which resulted in major bacterial infections and sepsis.
This then led to multiple operations through the COVID period been in and out of hospital not being able to see family or loved ones because of restrictions, not knowing what was happening, how I would cope and my family.
If I recall a total before my amputation in March 2021 I think 25 operation.
As the operations mounted and multiple skin grafted failed and then eventually took what was left of my hand took longer and longer to recover from because of so much trumor and scar tissue damage.
I eventually seeked out more advice from other surgeons and unfortunately by this stage the only option I was given was a below right elbow amputation which after 3 appointments of sitting there on the ward awaiting to be taken to theatre getting yourself mentally prepared for what came next were cancelled
But in March 2021 I had the amputation then started my journey as an Amputee trying to understand what was next learning physically and mentally how I was going to adjust to life.
It was a good couple of months before I was introduced to the Prosthetic clinic in Cambridge where they started showing me the various different types of prosthetics and what they could possibly do with a view of them fitting me into the program of having test sockets made specifically to my requirements to then eventually have a forearm and attachment hand made for me to use on a daily basis, I do remember at this stage when this was going on that my clinician said that I was the second upper body Amputee that he was working on with in the last 6 years which I found incredible.
I started to use my prosthetic that I had been issued with by the NHS it was then I noticed on the wall at one of my appointments information about Steelbones and that’s when I decided to sign up to the charity.
Whilst I was attending the hospitals at this point and prior Amputation I unfortunately wasn’t given any information or direction as to as soon to be and after what I need to know or do which I found disappointing.
When I received my Steelbones pack and read into what they do I started to realise that I wished I had known about them sooner and how they can help in the journey.
Whilst I was in hospital and during my rehabilitation period from my amputation I researched into different upper body prosthetics what was available how to obtain one what the procedure was to do so .
I was very lucky that a company I had reached out to Open Bionics invited me to a presentation day in London to find out more about there products.
I came away from this buzzing and really motivated to see if I could afford to purchase the arm or do a crowdfunding page to assist me on my journey as when on the Presentation Day the Clinician had a trial arm there to see if the individual could activate the arm correctly which I was able.
It was about a month later and Open Bionics reached out to me as they were Collaborating with Steeper a Prosthetic company to start a 6 month trial on there Arm and asked if I would be happy to do the trial and at that point didn’t realise that I would eventually have the arm/hand HeroArm and collaborate on other projects with them.
8 months after my amputation unfortunately I ended up with an infection at the end of my stump that burst and spread up my arm and very very close to my heart.
This was a horrible time again as I was having to have my operation and multiple blood transfusions and at this point my now late father in law was struggling with Cancer and being in and out of hospital like myself.
I eventually had to have a further 2.5 inches removed and what was left of my forearm left to heal from the inside out which was difficult and it longer process.
Finally got back to going through the motions with recovery and my own rehabilitation joining the gym again getting back to some sort of fitness level and again having to go through the motions of having a new prosthetic made to fit and trying different types.
Towards the end of 2023 I helped Open Bionics with a new prosthetic prototype that would then become available for Amputee’s called the HeroFlex Arm light weight 3d printed prosthetic which I used for most of the time when doing activities.
I used the Arm in product commercial which is now seen online on there website in all countries.
I also used the Arm in a Guinness World Record attempt for Bench pressing a calculated weight in one hour which I did and was recorded by ITV local, then I decided in January 2024 to break the record again and ended up doing 70kgs 145 reps / times in an hour which I’m just awaiting for the Certificate for.
I have continued in trying to improve my situation that I find myself in both mentally ie back working but now for Argos and doing a management apprenticeship and working full time or doing more activities and challenges.
It was back in the summer 2024 that I was looking at the various events and activities that Steelbones were doing when I came across the Canoe Challenge and thought I can do this so signed up to it impulsive move without really thinking about it and appreciate what was needed.
I told Leila that evening after she returned back from a dog show after winning with them that I had signed up to it and her reply was what a plonker I was your never do it.
Unfortunately for her that was even more of an insensitive to prove her wrong lol
I decided to have couple of lessons then bought my own kayak I did the challenge raised about £1000 for Steelbones and the Open Bionics Foundation
I have continued on with the kayaking and out 3-4 times a week in the kayak looking forward to next year as want to set a new Guinness World Record for upper body Amputee kayaking
And also working with Steelbones raising awareness further afield showing that there are opportunities out there for every Amputee prior Amputation and after to start there New Journey and that there are support networks out there which we can help with.
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