A nurse who had had her leg amputated after a motorbike accident is looking forward to getting back to work.
Clare Sutcliffe, from Clitheroe, is having a prosthetic limb fitted next month and is hoping that she will be able to go back to work soon.
The 42-year-old said she was ‘lucky to survive’ a motorbike accident three years ago in Ireland which shattered her left ankle.
The injury worsened over the years as bone fragments had punctured the blood supply which led to avascular necrosis – which is bone death.
After using an electric wheelchair due to pain over the past three years, Clare took the decision to have a below the knee amputation on September 14.
She said: “I didn’t have to have it done; it wasn’t life threatening but I was in a lot of pain.
“It was very painful, I had two operations and had pins and plates put in.
“The pain would have got worse over the years and I made the decision to amputate to improve my quality of life.”
The mother-of-three works as an advanced nurse practitioner in the A and E department at Airedale Hospital in Steeton, West Yorkshire and has been working on minor injury patients over the past three years so that she can remain seated while doing her job.
She is having her prosthetic leg fitted on November 12 and hopes this will get her back to working on the fast-paced A and E floors in six months.
Clare added: “I want to be back doing the job that I love.
"After this operation some people don't go back to work.
"Some go back sooner if they have a job in an office.
"Some people don't have as demanding jobs as me."
Her friend, Joanne Cranham who also works for the NHS, has set up a fundraiser for her to help her buy a lightweight wheelchair which Clare said could get her back to work sooner as it would be easier for her to transport.
The fundraiser has already made over £2,000 which was the original target however due to the flood of donations, the target has been increased to £4,000.
She added: “It’s crazy – I never expected it.
“I was pretty shocked when my friend put it up.
“I don’t like asking for charity but I am just overwhelmed by the support.”
If you would like to support the fundraiser you can donate on the JustGiving page.
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