DEFYING THE ODDS.

My name is Anne Gladys Luggya. I am from Uganda, and I am a medical doctor. During my senior residency training in obstetrics and gynecology, I suffered a near-death accident experience in March 2022 and sustained a compound fracture of my right leg, which also involved gross nerve and blood vessel injuries. I was from school that day when a careless, overspeeding truck driver ran into me and other road users. I sustained the most severe injuries.

I was rushed to the hospital, the initial surgery was done, and I was astonished to find my leg on. I felt hopeful that I would not lose it. The next day vascular surgery and orthopaedic surgery were done trying to save my leg. however, three days later, I couldn’t move and feel my foot. The color had become so dark. Being a medical personnel, I knew my foot had died and I could predict what was in for me.

I went into self-preparation and meditation. I loved wearing high-heeled shoes. I knew that was over for me. I loved running around with the children, but that was not going to happen anymore. I got down but had to prepare my family as well for what was coming. They broke down and I had to encourage them. They couldn’t understand why I was strong yet I was the one in pain. I had already come to terms with the reality.

We had a meeting with my doctors about amputation. I never thought twice about it because I needed to heal fast for my four children, especially my one-year-old son by then. I thought of how far I had struggled to have a decent life and felt like every effort had just been crushed. I was almost completing my studies. I got down! I surrendered to god to see me through. I had full support from my family, faculty and friends.

After the amputation, I suffered a pulmonary embolism and ended up in the ICU for one week. I survived that too. I left the hospital for home after six weeks. My most daunting experience was phantom pains, I couldn’t sleep. Physiotherapy helped me overcome this gradually. Later I went to get my prosthesis but couldn’t use it because one of my stump bones was too close to the skin. It was extremely painful wherever I tried putting on the liner.

I had to undergo refashioning surgery for the stump. Literally starting the process afresh. I had already made up my mind not to give up. Surgery was successful. As I healed, I ensured that I completed my studies while using crutches and I conquered.

Later, I went back to Ottobock Kenya for my prosthesis in March 2023. The journey to walking again was progressively impressive. I learned how to walk quite fast, pushing myself every day beyond self-pity. Six weeks later I was discharged from rehabilitation.

I returned to school and completed the practical part of my training successfully. I graduated in 2024. I am working, able to stand and carry out patient surgeries, and ward reviews well without limitation.

Of course, there are bad days especially when the phantom pains recur as well as stump swelling, but I look for the positive out of the negative experience. I am still alive, able to take care of my babies and hopeful for greater exploits. I decided that disability would not define me nor limit my dreams. I joined the amputee support group where people share their experiences of living with disability. I am glad to be helping wherever I can by giving medical guidance from the scientific and experience points as I understand what they are going through since I have been there.