My mother lost her right arm
Hi everyone. My mother is 63 and was involved in a serious car accident three weeks ago. Unfortunately, the doctors were unable to save her right arm, and she had to undergo an amputation.
This is especially heartbreaking for our family because I recently had my first baby, and my mother was so incredibly excited to become a grandmother for the first time. She had been looking forward to this new chapter of her life so much. Seeing her go through this just weeks after my baby was born has been extremely difficult.
As her daughter, I’m trying to figure out how I can best support her through this incredibly difficult time. Everything is still very new, and I’m worried about both her physical recovery and how she will cope emotionally with such a huge change in her life.
For those of you who have experienced an amputation yourselves, or supported a parent or loved one through one:
● What helped you the most during the first few weeks and months?
● What should I do — and what should I avoid doing — when trying to support her?
● How can I encourage her independence without making her feel like she has to manage everything on her own?
● What helped emotionally with accepting the loss of a limb?
● Is there anything you wish your family had understood or done differently?
● How important were rehabilitation, occupational therapy and prosthetic training in helping you regain independence?
● Are there any practical things we should start thinking about now, such as adapting the home or learning one-handed techniques?
● Did speaking to other amputees or joining a support group help?
I know everyone’s experience is different, but I would really appreciate hearing from people who have been through something similar.