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September 9th, 2022, started like any other day for Nathan. He got up and rode his motorbike to work did his job and got ready to ride home to his family, but sadly, he never completed that ride home.
He was only 10 minutes from home when a camper van didn't see him and pulled out in front of him, Nathan hit the camper at 100km.
Defying all odds, Nathan survived, but he had completely shattered his left leg, from his hip to his toes. Not one bone was intact. He had also broken his right arm between his shoulder and elbow. There were 3 snaps and 17 fractures, and his spleen had a grade 3 laceration.
The doctors didn't know if Nathan would survive the surgeries, so they took the surgeries slow, starting with the most life threatening and went from there. He was in surgery every 24-48 hours, piecing him back together. Some surgeries took 5 hours and some 15 hours. Every day, Nathan got stronger, and finally, after 8 weeks, Nathan was able to come home. That only lasted 7 weeks.
He was admitted back to hospital for a left below knee amputation due to his foot and ankle not holding the weight of the heel flap, his ankle separated from his leg, his flap failed and Nathan became very unwell. After the amputation, Nathan was told he would be up and walking in 3 months, which was his number one goal.
Late February, early March, Nathan was cast and fitted for his first below knee prosthetic and began the journey of learning to walk.
Nathan Physiotherapy to help him learn to walk and all things amputation. Nathan was doing great, but he always felt something wasn't right. He tried different options like changing sockets from pinlock to vacuum seal, still something felt off to Nathan.
He noticed the swelling in his knee wasn't going down, and the pain was getting worse, Nathan got an MRI on his knee in mid-April 2023 to see why there was swelling and pain. The MRI showed something with his knee that wasn't right, and it needed to be investigated. Nathan was admitted into hospital, for what was meant to be a 90-minute day surgery it turned into 2 surgeries and a 3 week stay in hospital with another 6 weeks of IV antibiotics due to a massive septic infection in his knee.
Nathan had a new socket made, and everything was going great again, but now Nathan began to notice a different pain in his knee. Nathan was again sent for tests. This time, the results showed arthritis in the knee and scar tissue had turned into bone, pushing against tissue with every step.
Nathan was feeling overwhelmed about the impending surgery, wanting to talk about what it might be like going from a below knee to an above knee amputee. Nathan found very limited support groups in his area. Nathan started Brisbane Amputee Discussion Group on Facebook for like-minded active amputee's that want to show the world that life doesn't end when you lose a limb.
January 18th, 2024, Nathan had his second amputation he was only in hospital 4 days this time, Nathan was keen to get back up and walking. And that is what he did. Late February Nathan was fitted for his above knee prosthetic and he hasn't slowed down since.
Nathan's journey has been full of setbacks and heartache. He was 35 at the time of the accident. He led a very active life of fishing, camping, and four-wheel driving. The outdoors with his young family is where he wanted to be.
The accident took that from him, but Nathan's attitude towards his accident and recovery has made him an inspiration to everyone that he knows and everyone he has met along the way. Nathan believes that his accident is life changing, yes, but it's up to you if it's changes for the better or the worst. He chooses to make the best of out every situation.
Nathan welcomes any person with amputation to reach out to him if they would like to talk.
Contact us and submit your details and we can organise for Nathan to contact you soon.
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