"I had the bones of an 80-year-old, and I was only 37"
A Ballyfermot woman has launched a fundraiser to help her get life-changing surgery.
Caroline became an above-the-knee amputee in 2018, but her dream is to walk again.
"One morning in 2002 I woke up and couldn't lift my leg out of the bed. I was in horrific pain and went to the doctors and got a scan.
"They told me that due to arthritis I had the bones of an 80-year-old, and I was only 37."
Despite multiple knee replacements and other surgeries, Caroline contracted a deadly infection that resulted in her left leg being amputated.
She said she dreams of being able to walk again and won't give up hope.
She is hoping to get surgery in Australia to help her dream come true.
Caroline explained that due to complications she has not been able to get a prosthetic leg.
"I've now no other option available here in Ireland for me to be able to walk ever again."
"My last hope at being able to live my life to the fullest and get walking again is in Australia through a specialised surgical procedure called osseointegration.
"In this procedure, a metal rod is inserted into my leg bone protruding out through the skin, and a prosthetic leg is then attached directly to the metal rod."
"This would mean that I would not have to use any of the suspension systems that have failed for me and mean that I would be able to walk again using a prosthetic leg," Caroline explained.
Caroline explained that no surgeons in Ireland do this procedure in all of Ireland.
It is going to cost Caroline a staggering €120,000 to get this surgery.
"It is my dream that one day I’ll be able to walk again."
You can support Caroline here.
