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Ambassadors:
Ms Susan Harrison - Survivor of London bombings 2005
July 7th 2005 changed my life forever.
At 8.50am I was travelling in the first carriage of the Piccadilly line train between King’s Cross and Russell Square when a bomb was detonated, killing 26 people and injuring 340.
I received major life threatening injuries. I had to be resuscitated and spent two weeks on the intensive care ward.
Whilst I had lost my left leg above the knee, the biggest shock to me was the severe blast injuries to my right leg. It was suggested that I may have to have a below knee amputation for that leg too. With the skill of the plastic surgeons involved, they fought to save my leg and I’m happy to say they won.
Plastic Consultant Surgeon, Simon Withey and his team performed skin and fat grafts to my leg. They also used leeches to help suck through the blood vessels to make sure the graft survived.
The psychological effects of scarring go far deeper than I imagined. I didn’t think that I would be so concerned about how the world perceived me, especially since I had accepted losing a leg so easily. Although I am eternally grateful to Simon and his team for saving my leg, I still have major scarring, which I have been told, “Is the best it will get”. Despite today’s technology, this unsightly scarring will never go away.
When Simon introduced me to The Healing Foundation, I immediately knew that it was something I would like to be involved in and something I truly believed in. I understand how important it is that the research into scarring continues so that in the future people like me are able to have their scars reduced by new and innovative surgical and scientific techniques. It is also paramount that the research into the psychological affects of scarring carries on to enable us to offer the right support to others.
I am very proud to be an Ambassador for The Healing Foundation and it has my full support in all that they are trying to achieve.
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