What happened to your leg?

Heading down to grab a coffee at work today, a man stepped into the lift behind me and immediately asked, “What happened to your leg?” I could see genuine concern in his eyes—it wasn’t idle curiosity.

I explained that I’d developed sepsis from a cut on my foot while on holiday. He shared, with visible heartache, that his brother was facing the exact same ordeal: a cut foot, sepsis, and sadly, gangrene, with a double lower-leg amputation scheduled for tomorrow.

The poor man was completely overwhelmed. We stood there for half an hour, and I did my best to offer comfort and practical advice. I suggested he look into the Limbs 4 Life Facebook peer support group and shared small, humanising tips that helped me, like the importance of getting out of the hospital for a trip to the beach or the shops. I also mentioned practical aids, such as a plastic shower chair and a bed bottle, which can make such a difference in those early days.

Since his brother is 68, he doesn’t qualify for the NDIS, and he told me they felt lost navigating the system. I encouraged him to ask the hospital for a social worker to assist with prosthetic referrals. We also talked about the weight of it all; I shared that while formal hospital psychiatry wasn’t the right fit for me, the peer support I received through a call from Limbs 4 Life was life-changing.

Before I finally headed off for my coffee, we exchanged numbers. I made sure to clarify that while I’m not a counsellor, I am always here to listen and share what I’ve learned.

It reminded me of a recent request from a friend in the US asking if I’d be open to another amputee reaching out. My answer was the same: I’m always happy to share my story if it helps someone else feel a little less alone.

I’ve been wanting to complete the official Limbs 4 Life peer support training, but life has been busy—and occasionally challenging, between a trip to Lismore and a hospital stay for a broken hip. I still hope to do the training eventually, though I sometimes wonder if I’d be any good at it. In the meantime, I feel like the best way I can give back is through my podcast, where I can continue recording and sharing stories with our beautiful limb difference community. And by answering questions from random people who ask you with the best of intentions.