A man from West Sussex has described the "massive shock" of having his leg amputated less than 24 hours after visiting a doctor about a blister on his toe.
A Rapid and Life-Changing Medical Emergency
Mike Jones, a 43-year-old security consultant from Crawley, initially sought help because a blister caused by his trainers was not healing. Due to diabetes, which reduces sensation in his feet, he had not noticed the severity of the issue until his leg swelled and two of his toes turned black.
He attended a walk-in centre at Crawley Hospital, where he was told the blister looked infected. He was subsequently transferred to East Surrey Hospital and then to St George's Hospital in Tooting for specialist care. Scans and X-rays revealed a severe infection that had spread to the bone, leaving doctors with no alternative but to amputate his leg below the knee on December 11.
Facing an Uncertain Future as a Carer
Mike's life has been upended in an instant. He combined a full-time job that involved travelling across the country with being the sole carer for his housebound mother, whose health has "deteriorated drastically" in recent years. His inability to care for her now is, he says, "one of the toughest things to deal with."
Discharged from hospital just before Christmas, Mike faces a precipitous drop in income. He receives only four weeks of company sick pay before moving to Statutory Sick Pay, creating a severe financial strain. A GoFundMe page has been set up by friends to help him keep a roof over his head and food on the table in the coming months, and to arrange care for his mother. At the time of writing, over £1,000 had been raised.
A Determined Outlook and a Stark Warning
Despite the ordeal, Mike is determined to look forward. "I'm a strong minded person," he stated. "It was a whirlwind from initially going to A&E and within 24 hours losing a leg. But I can't change what has happened... I'm focusing on recovery and adaptation."
He has a prior experience with serious infection, having survived a battle with septic spinal cord abscesses last year, which he says made the decision to amputate somewhat easier to accept.
Mike ended with a crucial plea to the public: "If you feel ill or have something out of the ordinary develop, get yourself checked. You could save yourself a leg or three!" His story highlights the potential speed at which a minor issue can escalate, particularly for individuals with underlying conditions like diabetes.
