Graham and his Leg.

We first met Graham in July 1997.  At that time he was 15 years old, 6 foot 2 inches and weighing in at about 110 kgs.  A big boy, with a gentle and caring personality.  When he spoke you would expect a loud booming voice to match his size, where in fact he was quietly spoken and I often had to lean close to him to hear what he had to say.

He was referred to the Heartwell Foundation by the physiotherapy department at RCH.  On almost 12 months to the day that we met him, he had had a left below knee amputation for bone cancer of his left tibia and tarsal bones.

Prior to that, he had complained to his Mum a few times of an aching leg, as growing kids often do.  I find even today, if I listen too hard to every ache and pain my three children report to me, I would have no time left to process any other information in my day.  There is a filter there, to help mothers get some things done!  When a bump appeared on Graham’s leg it was time to go to the Doctor.  He was very lucky that his cancer was contained in just the bones of his lower left leg.  By having his lower leg removed, he was able to go on and live an active life.

He was fitted with a “new leg” in the February 1997.  He had to attend a gait re-training program and then he was keen to start running and playing sport again.  At that time he had  poor fitness and he fatigued easily.  He needed to learn to balance his body under these new conditions.

As Graham developed confidence in his artificial leg he wouldn’t mind showing it off.  Once or twice out of the blue he kicked his leg off during a session, just for a reaction.  For example mid way through a skill session on kicking, off it flew - on purpose.   This created great amusement for him, but the kids around him almost died of shock!  

We had some fun with Graham.  We watched him grow up over those late teenage years.  He will be turning 31 years old this year.

Graham during a pool session in 1998