Latest news with #amputee
RNZ News
03-07-2025
- General
- RNZ News
The Panel with Andrew Clay and Zoe George Part 2
This half hour the panel speak to an exasperated amputee about the state of the ACC-funded artificial limb service, and they head to the small Australian town of Morwell where the infamous mushroom trial is taking place. Photo: Brad White
BBC News
25-06-2025
- BBC News
Triple amputee becomes first to complete solo Pacific sail
A former soldier has become the first triple amputee to sail solo, non-stop and unsupported across the Pacific Wood, 33, from Doncaster, arrived at Hiroshima in Japan at 01:00 BST on Tuesday, 90 days after leaving Puerto Vallarta in said he hoped to show anyone living as an amputee that "you can achieve any goal you set out to - there are no limits".He added: "I'm exhausted - but so proud to complete an expedition that many thought impossible." "It has tested me and my boat, Sirius II, almost to the limit, but I tried to stay in the moment, focus on my goal and the thought of seeing my wife and children at the end spurred me on," Mr Wood said."We are expecting our third child so I am so excited to get back to them all and start this new chapter together." Mr Wood completed 7,506 nautical miles at an average speed of 3.6 knots, facing unpredictable weather, sleep deprivation and isolation, as well as challenges associated with his the challenge he found time to cultivate a tomato plant and make pies, pizza and bread from scratch with one said: "Recently I broke my prosthetic arm leaving me one-handed, which is nothing I haven't had to deal with previously but it has made things a bit more difficult while sailing."However, I've found the whole thing to be a spiritual experience that has made me even more appreciative of the life I have been able to create for myself after everything that happened to me."It's still my hope that by achieving this world record I can change the perception of disability, and show how sailing can transform the lives of those affected by trauma."Mr Wood was raising money for Blesma, which supports limbless veterans and Turn to Starboard, which helps members of the armed forces to readjust to civilian former rifleman was posted to Afghanistan shortly after his 18th birthday, but three months later he lost both legs and his left hand in a blast from an improvised explosive Wood normally lives on his boat, Sirius II, with his wife, Renata, and their two young children. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
CTV News
19-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Amputee may be on the hook for thousands for prosthetic leg
Kitchener Watch CTV's Spencer Turcotte hears the plight of an amputee who says a lack of provincial funding may mean she has to pay tens of thousands for a prothesis.
WIRED
10-06-2025
- Health
- WIRED
It's healthy to talk about health
Feature With When it comes to our health, talking and sharing can have a positive impact on our wellbeing. Bupa's new Health Stories campaign aims to encourage even the most reserved amongst us to open up. Many of us don't want to talk about our physical and mental health. But new research suggests that doing so can actually have a positive impact on our wellbeing. Bupa, the international healthcare company, is encouraging all of us to talk about our health through a new global campaign, Health Stories , which launches today. The company has created a suite of films featuring people sharing their experiences of a wide range of health conditions. By capturing these incredible voices, Bupa is breaking down the barriers of stigma and embarrassment, while also tackling the sense of isolation that individuals too often feel as they cope with a cancer diagnosis or begin therapy for a mental health condition. It's all about removing the taboos that still affect us as a society when it comes to our health. One story within the new film series sees a brave woman sharing her response when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. Her immediate reaction was: this cannot be happening to me. Imagine how many have felt that same emotion but kept it to themselves? Another person shares their experience of being a deaf person with ADHD, which is a condition he believes has never been discussed in public before. And an amputee explains how she was able to start enjoying life again after she expressed her feelings to her prosthetist who listened and understood. Dr Mohamed Maan, Head of Clinical Operations, Bupa Global explains why this campaign can have a positive impact: 'Hearing how another person has managed a health condition can make you feel so many things—connected, empowered, supported, hopeful, a sense of relief.' Ruby Tui, 2021 Rugby World Cup champion and a mental heath advocate. New research from Bupa shows that while four in five people believe that sharing their health stories can support physical and mental health, almost half (49 percent) have avoided addressing a health concern. Yet of those who have avoided a health concern, over half (53 percent) admitted that it caused them more worry, and over a third (31 percent) felt their health worsened. The overall picture is that people really do want to talk—they just need the means and encouragement to do it. Ruby Tui is a New Zealand rugby union player who has competed internationally, won gold at the 2020 Olympics, and was a member of the Black Ferns team that triumphed in the 2021 Rugby World Cup. Through openly sharing her mental health story, she advocates for others to do the same so they can get the support and help they need: 'Through the simple task of sharing, we can open ourselves up to different perspectives, and we can empower ourselves to find solutions. I hope this campaign from Bupa sheds light on the importance of our individual health and wellness journeys and inspires more people to make their health a priority that they talk about openly and honestly.' Junior who has Crohn's disease Bupa's ambition with Health Stories is to encourage people to proactively seek the care they might need—inspired by the stories they have watched. As a result of these conversations and moving testimonies, we can all realize that there are millions of us, every day, with a health condition that doesn't need to be endured alone. A simple conversation can make a big difference. For more inspiring real-life health stories, visit
The National
04-06-2025
- Business
- The National
Renowned surgeon launches Abu Dhabi clinic to transform care for amputees
A pioneering orthopaedic surgeon who has dedicated his career to advancing prosthetic care around the world has a new mission to support amputee patients in the UAE. Prof Munjed Al Muderis, a renowned expert with decades of experience in the field, spoke of his vision to ensure limb loss never 'defines a person's future' after launching a cutting-edge clinic at Burjeel Medical City in Abu Dhabi. The Al Muderis Osseointegration Clinic – which opened last week in collaboration with the Paley Middle East Clinic – offers groundbreaking surgical techniques which aim to reduce recovery times and boost the mobility of patients adapting to a new way of life. The centre offers surgery, rehabilitation, training and long-term follow-up care. 'Mobility is life,' said Prof Al Muderis. 'Our mission is to ensure that limb loss never defines or limits a person's future.' Prof Al Muderis is a former refugee who fled Iraq in 1999 after refusing orders to perform amputations on army deserters under the regime of Saddam Hussein. He rebuilt his life in Australia and has gone on to become a global leader in limb reconstruction. He has treated more than 1,200 patients around the world – including soldiers from Ukraine, Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries wounded in war. New lease of life Most amputees wear prosthetics that attach using a socket that fits over the residual limb. These systems can cause skin breakdown, sores, sweating and instability. Osseointegration involves surgically inserting a titanium rod into the bone of the amputated limb. The rod extends through the skin and connects directly to the external prosthetic limb. Because the prosthesis is anchored to the skeleton, it moves naturally with the body, improving balance, comfort and control. When paired with robotic or muscle-controlled components, the prosthetic limb can respond to signals from the body, offering precise, intuitive motion. Recovery after surgery typically takes months, but Prof Al Muderis has developed a single-stage procedure that dramatically shortens healing time. In some cases, patients begin walking immediately after surgery, with a full recovery period as short as a week. 'I've operated on Ukrainian soldiers this year, and I'm going again this month,' he said. 'I've treated soldiers from many countries. They're young people who deserve to live full lives after injury.' His work has also helped civilians and children. The new clinic in Abu Dhabi will offer access to patients across the region, many of whom previously had to travel abroad for this kind of care. Osseointegration is expensive. In countries without insurance coverage, the procedure can cost between $80,000 and $100,000. However, studies show it can be more cost-effective over time. Traditional socket prosthetics need frequent replacement and adjustments, whereas the osseointegrated implant is long-lasting and more stable. Pledging support Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, founder and chairman of Burjeel Holdings, announced he would fund 10 osseointegration operations and pledged Dh4 million in support of the clinic's work. 'In the Year of the Community, it is our responsibility to support those who need advanced care and help bring them back to normal life,' Dr Vayalil said. 'When it begins with a touch of generosity, we've already succeeded.' He was inspired by the story of Sham and Omar, two young Syrian siblings who lost limbs in a devastating earthquake and were brought to the UAE for treatment. Their strength, he said, is what led him to act. Life-changing surgery Glenn Bedwell is one of the many patients whose lives have been transformed by the procedure. He was 35 when a celebration turned into catastrophe that changed the course of his life. In 1991, after attending a party with family at a friend's house, he began packing their belongings into the boot of his wife's car. As he stood at the back of the vehicle, a drink-driver lost control and crashed into him, crushing Mr Bedwell between the two cars and severing his right leg on the spot. 'There was no time to move or brace,' he told The National. 'One moment I was loading the trunk, and the next, my life had changed forever.' For more than 20 years, Mr Bedwell wore a socket-based prosthesis. It allowed him to return to work, raise his children, and continue living. But eventually, his skin began to react to the silicone liners used in the socket system. By 2012, he could no longer wear it without pain. 'My body just rejected it,' he said. 'The heat, the pressure points, the constant chafing. In the tropics, you sweat all the time. It just got to the point where I couldn't wear it any more.' Even sitting down became a hazard. 'I remember breaking toilet seats because of the shape and weight of the socket prosthesis,' he said. 'If you sat down too quickly, it would just snap.' That was when he heard about the work being carried out by Prof Al Muderis, and, within three months of meeting him, he underwent surgery. 'The difference was instant,' he said. 'There was nothing touching my skin any more. Suddenly, I had my life back. 'It's like going from a loose, heavy boot to something that feels like your actual leg. 'There's no slipping, no pressure points and you even get a sense of the ground underneath you.' Today, the father of two and grandfather of four walks without pain. He swims, rides a bicycle and no longer needs crutches. 'I have a water leg I use in the shower. I can jump into a swimming pool and climb the ladder to get out like anyone else,' he said. 'I don't worry about slipping any more.' He now travels with Prof Al Muderis to speak to other amputees considering the surgery. 'I'm not a doctor. I don't get paid for this,' he said. 'But if my story helps someone else make the decision, it's worth it.'
