A new year means new beginnings and for newly-wed amputee Marcelle Jacobs, 2018 has much in store, including new prosthetic legs.
There is something refreshing and inspiring about a new year. January brings with it a chance to turn over a new leaf and drives an amazing sense of motivation to achieve new goals. We asked amputee Marcelle Jacobs what her goals are for 2018.
She was involved in a serious car accident on December 20, 2014 and suffered abdominal injuries and fractures to one of her legs. Due to complications following the accident, both her legs were amputated above the knee. Her health quickly started to deteriorate and what at first seemed like a fight to save her limbs quickly turned into a fight to save her life.
Marcelle managed to pull through and she was transferred to Muelmed rehabilitation unit, where further complications hindered her rehab progress. One year later, a specialist plastic surgeon found that her residual limbs were inflamed and infected, and stump revisions were required to solve the problem. This was progress in the right direction and Marcelle went into 2016 pain free.
Despite fighting an uphill battle with funding for prosthetic limbs, and losing her father in 2017, she remained positive and optimistic. The next thing she knew, her knight in shining armour came along and stole her heart. Marcelle and Dwayne got married in 2017 at a beautiful ceremony. She says it was the happiest day of her life.
She says that 2018 is going to be her best year and she has big goals. She is working very hard at rehabilitation and has recently started walking on adjusted prosthetic limbs (stubbies) to improve her balance and endurance in preparation for her first prosthetic legs. Her biggest goal is to get up on her new legs so that she will be able to care for a baby and be an active mom. We think that’s just about all the motivation anyone could ever need.
She continues to inspire us with her resilience, determination and positive attitude. We can’t wait to see what this young lady will achieve in 2018!
Heinrich Grimsehl is a prosthetist in private practice and a member of the South African Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (SAOPA). email: info@hgprosthetics.co.za
