Celebrity Traitors star Ruth Codd has made the courageous decision to have her second leg amputated after years of using crutches destroyed the joints in her remaining foot. The 29-year-old actress, who rose to fame through TikTok and Netflix roles, revealed the life-changing surgery in a characteristically humorous social media update.
The Irish performer had already undergone the amputation of all her toes in 2021 due to the physical impact of relying on crutches for eight years. Her medical team ultimately concluded that her foot would never improve beyond its current state, prompting the decision to proceed with below-knee amputation.
The Journey to Surgery
Ruth's path to this decision began with a football injury at age 15 that never healed properly, leaving her in constant agony. Six years ago, she made the difficult choice to have her first leg amputated after repeated failed surgeries and worsening nerve pain.
In a recent interview on Under The Skin with Grace Neutral, Ruth explained the medical reasoning behind her latest procedure. The way I used my crutches meant I was always on my tiptoes, which ultimately destroyed the joints in my feet, she revealed. My foot had gone past the point where they could do anything about it.
The actress didn't shy away from describing the physical reality of her situation, noting that after her toe amputations, my foot looks like a little hamburger. She emphasised that this decision was fundamentally about improving her quality of life and ability to work effectively.
Recovery and Positive Outlook
Ruth is currently recovering at her parents' house, where she shared a TikTok video introducing her new wheelchair, which she affectionately nicknamed Fat Tony. Despite the challenges ahead, she maintains her trademark wit and positive perspective.
The recovery process will require at least a month for the residual limb to heal before she can be fitted with a prosthetic. Ruth noted that this waiting period was the most difficult aspect of her previous amputation experience, as mobility becomes significantly limited.
Having been through this process before, the actress expressed confidence in her medical team, noting she's using the same surgeon who performed her first amputation six years ago. I know it's not the same for everyone, but my surgeon must have done quite a good job last time, she commented.
Career Impact and Future Plans
Ruth's acting career began unexpectedly when Netflix casting directors discovered her TikTok content during the pandemic. Despite having no previous acting experience, she landed roles in The Midnight Club and The Fall of the House of Usher.
The physical limitations had begun affecting her professional life, with Ruth admitting that her health problems have hindered me and made my ability to do my job more difficult. However, she remains optimistic about her future prospects, declaring: I think with two prosthetics I'll be pretty unstoppable.
Her Celebrity Traitors co-stars and fans have flooded social media with supportive messages, though Ruth jokingly responded: Guys stop being nice to me it's weirding me out. The internet also found humour in TikTok's automatic captions, which mistakenly transcribed below-knee amputation as bologna amputation, sparking numerous comedic responses.
Ruth's journey from years of chronic pain to her current positive outlook serves as an inspiring example of resilience. As she told the Irish Examiner after her first amputation: When I made the decision to amputate, things finally started to turn around. It was a relief. I could get on with my life.
