Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Caused Me to be an Amputee
I'm an identical twin and we were born prematurely at 28 weeks due to a condition called twin-to-twin transfusion. As a result of this I had blood clots in both my legs which resulted in me having to have my left leg amputated below the knee. For this reason, I've never known any different so growing up with a prosthetic leg was normal to me.
Being an amputee does not stop me
My right leg was also severely damaged. I lost all the fat and muscle tissue from my calve down, and I have no main artery. I've had corrective surgery on my toes twice, and my foot is in a fixed position. Although I've had these things wrong with my leg, it has never stopped me from doing anything. I go to the gym very regularly and have created a fitness account on Instagram to track my progress.
Fortunately, my twin brother wasn't affected by the condition, but he has always been very protective of me growing up. It's made us have a special bond that not many people could have.
Preparing to be a double amputee
In the past year my right leg has been getting worse and worse, and has progressed to the stage where it's almost too painful to put up with. Due to the pain, I have opted to have it amputated by May 2018, and have surgery called "Osseointegration" on both legs. The surgery involves putting a metal implant in both my legs through the bone. This would then come out of my own leg, which I would screw the prosthetic onto. It would be the closest thing to a real leg.
Remaining Positive And Helping Others
Through all the experiences I've had in my life, I've always remained positive and would love to become a motivational speaker so I could hopefully help and inspire others to have the same positive attitude as me. I've done about five talks in schools now, and have had amazing outcomes which is an amazing feeling. The key to life is to always be positive.
