Access by Various artists

I hope your operation goes well and there are no glitches.
Good luck with your recovery Brave person.

Thank you for writing about this.

In that case, anything a person decides to do or not, is an act of bravery in the face of uncertainty.

I think the degree of braveness is in the irreversibility of the option. Inaction is the easier option, so actively instigating an irreversible option is definitely brave.

I fervently hope it improves your life.

I fervently hope it improves your life.

Sincerely, I couldn't say it better.

I wish you well for your operation and hope you keep us posted. Bravery is a funny thing and I think you've nailed it here in your explanation.

Thank you so much.

Cheers. I think it was good for me to write it.

Thank you very much. I hope so, too.

Cheers. Thanks for reading.

Thank you for the good wishes. Bravery is a very strange thing. It's somehow considered a bit wrong to call yourself brave. I think it has helped me though in the acknowledgement that this a big deal and to give myself a break when I have moments when I am not coping very well.

Oh, Chelle. What an impossibly hard experience to have to go through. Thank you for writing about it. My very best thoughts and wishes to you. x

Thank you.

Thanks for reading. I'm not too concerned about pain. Given my paralysis, I'm not sure if I'll feel anything. Referred pain further up my leg is a bit concerning. Nerves can be tricky things. I'll just have to wait and see on that one. I'm most worried about infection as I've had some awful and worrying post-op experiences and I'm so prone to serious infection. I just have to hope it all goes to plan.

My grandfather in law lost his leg in his 80s, after an infection he couldn't shake. It was hard for him at his age to get used to his reduced mobility, but he was philosophical about it, and declared that plenty of his age-mates came back from the war minus a limb, and he had his for 60 years longer than them.

I wonder if anyone's done a good history of attitudes to disability, because I imagine they change over time just as medical and social circumstances shift the numbers of people affected by and surviving with disabilities.

Have you been given a time frame for when you might have your surgery? I know for me (also with Spina Bifida) stays in hospita/surgery never gets any easier. Best wishes.

Chelle, it is a big deal and a very difficult thing to deal with. I'm not sure you really have a choice, but your decision is made and it's one of hope, faith and trust. Now that the uncertainty about what to do is gone, you can focus on getting through it and recovering. Provided your infection risk is reduced, I suspect you won't look back, once you're out of hospital. Have you planned for rehab? All the best.

Just to let everyone know: Chelle has had her amputation, and while she's been dealing with pain and discomfort in recent days, the surgical side of things seems to have gone very well. Let's all hope her recovery is swift.

Thank you for the update Russell.

It is a big and brave step to take Chelle, and I wish you all the best.

Speaking with other people living with SB who have had to undergo the same surgery....you WILL start to feel better. Constantly dealing with wounds and infections, taking antibiotics....makes you feel like crap.

Please take care of yourself.

Saw this article on Stuff, and thought of you, Chelle. Hope things are progressing well for you.