Growing up as an amputee after a life-changing car accident – Olivia’s story
“In that moment I didn’t realise the extent of what happened. I don’t think it registered in my brain that I had one leg.”
A life-changing road traffic accident
Olivia was 10 years old when a road traffic accident changed her life in an instant. She remembers her dad sitting on her hospital bed and crying as he told her that she’d lost her leg. She said simply, “Don’t cry Dad, I’ll be fine.”
The family were travelling to collect Olivia’s sister, Bethany, from a birthday party when a speeding drunk driver collided with their car. Olivia, who was sitting in the back, took the brunt of the impact and her mum, Lisa, who was driving, was also injured. Lisa remembers, “I tried to get to Liv, but I couldn’t get out. There was lots of commotion, blue flashing lights. Liv was very quiet, I don’t know if she was awake.”
Lisa and Olivia were rushed to hospital, where Olivia underwent emergency surgery. With his wife receiving treatment of her own, Olivia’s dad, Ian, had to give the doctors permission to amputate his daughter’s leg – a decision he still carries the weight of today.
Olivia spent the next three days in intensive care. As soon as she could, Lisa, who’d suffered a haematoma on her head, discharged herself to be with her. Ian and Lisa slept in the hospital with Olivia for three weeks.
- In this video, Olivia talks about her experience as an amputee, while her mum, Lisa, reflects on the support their family has received from Irwin Mitchell. Watch the video to learn more about Olivia’s journey.
Returning home
In hospital, Olivia was taught how to use a wheelchair and crutches. She attended the hospital school, played music, and did lots of artwork. It kept her busy for those difficult first weeks, but she was desperate to go back to school with her friends.
Lisa worried about how the family would cope at home without nurses on hand to respond to Olivia’s needs. She says, “It was a challenge, but because of the trauma you’ve been through you accept it and go through the motions. We felt very vulnerable as parents, but we had to park our emotions. Liv had to be our priority – and Bethany.”
Olivia says, “I couldn’t use the bath on my own, my parents had to lift me out. My room was tiny, my wardrobe was in my sister’s room, and I couldn’t use my wheelchair. I lost all sense of independence.”
About six months after going home, Olivia needed more surgery. She was in pain, attending lots of appointments and starting to feel irritated by the fact she was an amputee. Her life was very structured around her rehabilitation, and she had to miss sleepovers and parties with her friends. Olivia says, “When I was in year 6, all my friends went to Harry Potter World. All my life I’ve loved Harry Potter, but I couldn’t go because I was in hospital. It really stood out for me as something I missed out on.”
Early rehabilitation
The NHS managed Olivia’s early rehabilitation and she developed positive relationships with her team. They had to be creative and adapt adult equipment for her to use, because there wasn’t any specific provision for child amputees. Olivia was given her first prosthetic shortly after being discharged from hospital and was using a running blade within three months of her amputation.
Olivia says, “I think it helped massively that I was young. I feel like it made it easier to learn to walk, to learn to ride my bike again. It was just something else to learn.”
Sport has been significant in Olivia’s recovery. She says, “I’ve done a million different sports since the crash. Me and my dad cycle a lot, but swimming is the most important. It’s a sport that I can do without prosthetics, and I like the freedom it gives me. Sport has helped me to stay fit and has kept me mentally well.”
Legal support
The family instructed Irwin Mitchell one month after the crash. The legal case was long and complex, but Lisa says, “Once the insurers agreed who was going to cover the claim, it naturally started to gain momentum.”
When the family met Hilary Wetherell, a partner in our Serious Injury team, they were impressed by her approach. Lisa says, “She was very calm, respectful and the empathy she gave us, we knew she was the right fit.”
Due to Olivia’s age, her dad, Ian, acted as her Litigation Friend until she turned 18, but it was very much a family affair. Hilary says, “Everyone had their own issues and own experience of the accident. I had to bring them all along on the process and show them how and why things could be so much better.”
The importance of a case manager
The legal claim allowed the family to appoint a specialist case manager, Kate Gibbons, from Emma Way Associates.
Lisa was reluctant to accept any help at first and Kate says she, “Was the glue holding everything together. I helped her navigate a slow release of her responsibility to me.”
Kate supported Olivia with medical treatment and appointments, which allowed the family to focus on milestones in Bethany’s life as well. She also liaised with clinicians and occupational therapists to support her mobility at school and generally helped the family tread the difficult line between what Olivia wanted as a teenager and what her parents felt was right for her.
Kate says, “It was important for Liv to find her own way whilst being an amputee. I supported her parents, whilst advocating for Liv, acknowledging Lisa’s worry and fears, and helping them all to find a way through.”
Kate encouraged the family to make the most of opportunities. She showed them how the claim could support them to move to a bigger house, which would benefit Olivia, despite their reluctance to leave the family home.
The space in the new house means Olivia can use a lightweight wheelchair, giving her time to rest from her prosthetic. She has a bedroom large enough for all her equipment and a wet room where she can wash and bathe safely. She also has a downstairs bedroom that she can use if she’s tired, unwell, or unable to wear her prosthetic for any reason. Most importantly, the family are now able to spend time together. Olivia says, “Having enough space for me to move a wheelchair means I can help my parents do things like set the table, whereas before, my hands were full up with crutches.”
Prosthetic choices
Lisa remembers New Year’s Eve when Olivia was 12. She’d been showing signs of struggling with how she felt about her prosthetic and when she was dressed for a party she said, “My leg looks rubbish.” Not wanting these feelings to develop, Olivia’s parents made their first appointment with a private prosthetist to see what choices there were.
Interim payments in the legal claim gave Olivia access to a wide choice of prosthetics, which were mechanically advanced and more aesthetic. Her claim also allowed her to work with physiotherapists on building strength in her leg to make them easier to wear. New opportunities were opening up for Olivia and, as Lisa says, “It was a big turning point.”
Olivia now has five different prosthetics. The one she uses most is the Proprio, which has a moving ankle programmed to follow the way her other leg walks. She has a cosmetic leg, which is colour matched to her other leg and gives her the confidence to wear shorts and dresses. She has a running blade, a wet leg, which she can wear poolside or on the beach, and her NHS leg.
Settling the claim and looking to the future
Olivia’s claim settled shortly after her 18th birthday and just before her A’ levels. She enjoyed a carefree summer before heading to university to study multi-media journalism. Olivia was able to take over conduct for the final months. She says, “Hilary is definitely someone who’s fought my corner. She made things very understandable and introduced good people into our lives as well.”
Hilary says, “It was wonderful to have Olivia involved and be the decision maker at the end. She’s always been so matter of fact and this has not altered. Of course, there have been difficult times, but she has got up and got on. It’s great to see her settling in at university and thoroughly enjoying all that life’s got to offer.”
Kate is still available for Olivia and catches up with her regularly to make sure she has the support she needs, such as with securing adaptations to her university accommodation and moving her prosthetic provision closer to where she’s now living. Kate says, “At school, Olivia never wanted people to change their plans for her. She’s got her voice now and she’s able to point out when things don’t work for her.”
Olivia’s parents now have the peace of mind that comes with knowing their daughter’s future is secure. Lisa says, “As Liv continues to grow, the claim will support her. Funds are there for her throughout her life as an amputee.”
Reflecting on their journey
Lisa took a lot of strength from people who’d had similar experiences of amputation. She says, “People used to say to us, ‘You’ll get there’. And I’d think, ‘I don’t know where there is, because your there is very different to our there.’ Having people who knew what ‘there’ was, really helped us.”
Olivia, who is making the most of being able to live independently at university and has plans to go to Camp America, says, “It has changed my outlook on life because you never know what is going to happen. I do value every day.”
If you, or a loved one has experienced a life-changing injury in a road traffic accident, our legal experts understand the depth of support you need. As the UK’s leading personal injury team, we’ll help you access the best medical care, compensation and rehabilitation.
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