New Zealand's next bionic man

14/08/2012 2:05:37 p.m.

Leigh Ellis wrote:

Christine, 18 years I have been waiting for good things to happen and be funded by ACC. I am now 42, in 18 years I will be 60, how long do we have to wait for the govenment to intoduce new and innovative techniques. How long do we wait for ACC to pay for rehabilitation. I would be in Sydney right now if I had the money. In a heartbeat.

11/08/2012 9:08:08 p.m.

Christine Windle wrote:

All I ask of amputees is to look into all your options before rushing into anything. There is more than one option, try OPRA. To us this is new, it has become the best thing since sliced bread for us. The patient has an obligation to look after oneself, don't always seek the first put on your plate. The Government is investigating techniques to hopefully be introduced into New Zealand to be funded by ACC. Be patient. Good things take time !

4/06/2012 12:26:20 p.m.

Rachael Tucker wrote:

Hi all, I am an 28 year old above knee amputee (congenital) and have been in touch with Dr Almuderis re:this surgery, I have just sent through my X-rays and I am waiting to hear if I would be eligible for this surgery. Like so many though I don't have a spare $90k to pay, however on the 5th of July Dr Almuderis has advised that a ACC surgeon/rep will be attending this clinic to consider funding and encourages those who support the procedure or are considering it to please attend if you can! I will be going regardless if I am a candidate or not as I feel it is so important that this surgery should be funded, and although I am not covered by ACC as I was born without my leg, I strongly believe this should be funded and that every amputee should have the right and choice to live life to its full potential. All my life I have endured pain from my prosthesis, endless sores, boils, blisters, rubbing, bruising, cramps etc. I have disproportion hips due to wearing my old wooden leg growing up which had a strap around my waist and to have this surgery would be nothing but a dream for me, Ian & Phil is it true that you can feel some sensations such as the ground underneath your feet etc? The mere thought of this alone for me personally is mind blowing & surreal, I wouldn't sit down for days! I really encourage everyone to contact Dr Almuderis & come and support the funding in July. Best wishes to you all, and anyone feel free to give donations for the surgery, please this is life changing. Kind Regards Rachael

1/06/2012 1:28:03 a.m.

Bruce Behan wrote:

Hi Phill, Iain, My wife Jackie had the Endo-Exo procedure done last year. #2 by Munjed. Please be careful with your balance as she broke the hip of the leg that has the integration in Feb this year and has complications with the rotation of the leg. Great to see both T.V clips and good luck on your new lease of life. Hope to catch up in Sydney at the clinic one day.

23/05/2012 7:48:05 p.m.

Iain McGregor wrote:

Hows it going. I'm the 2nd NZer to get this done and am going over to Oz on Mon for the 2nd stage of this procedure. I fortunately (as many have said due to discomfort etc) have never worn a socket prosthetic as I grabbed at the chance with both hands and won't regret it. Next week I will have a leg on that won't cause me any grief. I will keep lobbying to ACC that this should be funded. Cheers Iain

19/05/2012 3:52:14 p.m.

Phill Coulson wrote:

Hi folks, I will try and answer any questions you may have about my experience with the implant ( ILP... integral leg prosthesis) as best as I can. Email me at pcoulson@xtra.co.nz Dr Almuderis and his team are planning on speaking to NZ officials about funding this procedure for kiwis but be prepared for a lengthy process. Phill

17/05/2012 1:24:50 p.m.

James Daniels wrote:

My name is James Daniels I am 16 years old I lost my leg at 9 years old through bone cancer. I haven't live a full live yet and there is so many things I haven't tryed and the leg I have now is causing a lot of problems and I think that this operation will help me a lot but the only problem is the cost

17/05/2012 10:13:05 a.m.

Billy Mckee wrote:

As a long term amputee (30yrs plus) I am real happy for the people that are able to get this operation. They have dodged a train load of pain. One of the problems is that there is hundreds of amputees in NZ who would greatly benefit from this operation but will never be able to afford it. This simple operation is not a new discovery and it is not difficult but the NZ medical profession refuses to consider it. Instead they just let people live a very poor life style by being confined to wheelchairs or beds in pain from bed sores and spending heaps more money to support them. They are feed up on pills that have terrible side effects. Medicine that does actually help such as cannabis are illegal and I am facing a 8 year jail sentence for this. Talk about frustrating I cannot even suicide due to family responsibilities.