Hey Jude! Patient surprises staff by walking again

Date of release: 30 November 2023

“Seeing Jude walk into my office was genuinely one of the highlights of my career.”

Karen Davies, Consultant Paediatrician at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT), was thrilled to see popular former patient Jude Aston return to hospital to surprise staff by walking following the amputation of his right leg.

Jude on his surprise visit with a bouquet of flowers he presented to Karen Davies (far left), his mum Emma Aston and Jane Lakin, Jude’s carer. You can watch a video of the moment Jude surprised Karen on YouTube

Medics said it would be unrealistic for Jude to use a prosthesis (artificial leg) and his amputation was done so he could achieve a comfortable seating position.

Jude, 19, strode into Karen’s office at New Cross Hospital wearing his new leg just months after being in a wheelchair, leaving her shedding tears of joy.

He had been confined to bed and a chair during his stay on Ward A21 Paediatrics after suffering chronic pain syndrome – but he is now walking again for the first time in three years.

His condition, which left him in excruciating pain, was sparked by a reaction to surgery on his right leg as part of his treatment for cerebral palsy.

But since his discharge, Jude, who is a communications apprentice at the City of Wolverhampton Council, had his right leg amputated and had a custom-made prosthetic limb fitted above the knee in its place.

Fitted at Selly Oak Rehabilitation Centre, the new leg – called C leg 4 with a micro-processing knee, and secured through suction, a valve and straps across his waist – enabled Jude to first of all stand and gradually to start walking again.

“It just feels surreal really,” said Jude, who lives in Penn. “I have visualised this day, coming back to surprise people by walking again. It feels strange to have done it so soon because I only had my leg amputated on 12 December last year and now I’m walking unaided. It feels brilliant.

“I knew the chances of walking again were slim but I knew I’d do it in some shape or form – that was the hope that kept me going, especially when the idea of the amputation came about.”

Karen said: “Seeing Jude walk into my office was genuinely one of the highlights of my career. This is the best day. He’d kept the leg fitting a secret from me, and it really was the loveliest surprise I could imagine.

“It’s been an absolute privilege to be a part of Jude’s journey over the last three years.

“He is a truly inspirational young man. Though his resilience, determination and sheer force of personality he has defied all the odds by conquering one of the worst cases of complex regional pain syndrome I have seen.

“Also, he managed to persuade an expert surgical team – against all currently accepted medical wisdom – that amputation was the right way forward for him, and that a functional prosthesis was a realistic prospect.

“He was also told his best option would be to accept being a high-functioning wheelchair user for the rest of his life. I knew if anyone could prove otherwise it would be Jude, and he hasn’t let us down!”

Jude had his new leg on 14 September. “The first time I walked again, it took five people to help me because it was the first time I’d walked in three years,” he said.

Jude attended the surprise hospital visit with mum Emma Aston, who said: “We couldn’t have done this without Karen’s support and belief in his journey. That’s especially important because there are such pressures in the NHS and it shows that great things are possible.”

ENDS

• For further information, please call Tim Nash on 07714 741097 or email tim.nash2@nhs.net