When I was 4 years old, one of my legs was run over by a riding lawn mower. I was rushed to the children’s hospital in Hamilton, Ont., and rushed straight into surgery.
As you could imagine, I lost a lot of blood, and being run over by a lawn mower exposed my open cuts to rust, dirt, and other dirty things which increased my risk of septic shock. At one point, there was a strong possibility of losing my leg to avoid further infection in other areas of my body.
Due to these risks, I received five blood transfusions, five surgeries to protect me from septic shock and was in the hospital for about two weeks. After my release from the hospital, I had to learn how to walk again, and had to overcome some leg limitation issues with years of physiotherapy. I also had three additional surgeries to help fix problems related to my growth.
Thanks to the amazing doctors and nurses, I was able to keep my leg, and I am very thankful for that. I am able to run, bike, and play all my favourite sports because of them. I must also thank all of the blood donors who were able to provide me with the support I needed to stay healthy and keep my leg, which is why I am a blood donor today. I want to give back and potentially make a change like others did for me, because I know directly how much it can positively impact a life. Thank you!
