Erica Campbell

For most of her life, Erica Campbell had been someone who kept busy. Whether at work, walking her dogs or spending time with family, she rarely stood still. That changed in an instant in 2021 when a road traffic accident left her facing a future she could never have anticipated.

After more than 30 years working as a Legal Secretary, Erica had decided she was ready for a new challenge. Her daughter, who managed a veterinary practice in Inverness, invited her to join the team and complete the training programme. It was a completely different environment and one that Erica thoroughly enjoyed.

At that time, her children had all grown up and left home, while her husband was busy running his own business. Erica had settled into her new role at the veterinary practice and was enjoying the change of direction.

On her way to work one day, Erica arrived a little earlier than planned and decided to walk to the local shops to pick up some lunch before starting work. As she crossed the road, a lorry driver, who was driving dangerously, had failed to see her. The next thing Erica remembers is waking up in intensive care in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

When she regained consciousness, she was told that her leg had been amputated. When asked how Erica felt at this time, she said: "They were really dark days. It was during the COVID pandemic, I was in Aberdeen and all my family were in Inverness. I wasn't allowed any visitors due to the restrictions in the hospital at that time and the injuries were horrific."

The amputation was not the only challenge Erica faced after the accident. She had also suffered severe degloving up to her groin, leaving her to undergo extensive reconstructive surgery and skin graft procedures during the early stages of her recovery. "The skin grafts were even more painful than the amputation,” Erica explained.

After two weeks in Aberdeen, Erica was transferred back to Inverness, where she remained in Raigmore Hospital for a further five weeks. It was during this time that the scale of what she had been through started to sink in. "I thought that life was never going to be the same again for me,” said Erica.

Returning home was something Erica had looked forward to, but it quickly became clear how much had changed. The family home was not equipped for her needs and, for a time, she found herself largely confined indoors. Although a powered wheelchair improved her independence, Erica struggled with how different life had become.

During her recovery, Erica's husband was given the details of a specialist personal injury solicitor based in Glasgow. Looking back, Erica believes having someone to guide her through the practical and legal aspects of recovery made an enormous difference. "Before the accident, I'd never even met an amputee, so I had no knowledge of what to expect. Having a solicitor take care of everything for me made a huge difference,” explained Erica.

Following her discharge from hospital, Erica was fitted with her first prosthetic leg. However, it never felt quite right and wasn't helping her progress in the way she had hoped. Over time, she began to wonder whether it would be easier to rely on her wheelchair instead.

It was during discussions with her solicitor that Erica first heard about osseointegration surgery. Through ReLimb, a clinical partner of Dorset Orthopaedic, she was introduced to Dr Norbert Kang in London. During their consultation, Dr Kang explained the potential benefits and risks of the procedure, giving Erica the information she needed to decide whether it was the right path for her.

Following a series of assessments, Erica learned that she was suitable for osseointegration surgery. She travelled to London in November 2024 for the procedure before returning home to recover. Two months later, she began rehabilitation at Dorset Orthopaedic’s Glasgow clinic, working closely with Prosthetist David Morrison and Physiotherapist Nikki Porteous throughout the next stage of her recovery.

The programme focused on physiotherapy, weight-bearing and gradually building strength and confidence through every stage of recovery.

By the time funding had been secured for the surgery, Erica had spent three years using a wheelchair and felt it had taken a significant toll on her fitness. Reflecting on the support she received from the Dorset Orthopaedic team, Erica said: “Dorset Orthopaedic were brilliant. They really put me through my paces and helped me get back to full fitness.”

After six weeks of rehabilitation, Erica was introduced to her Genium X4, a moment she still remembers vividly. "When I first saw the Genium X4, I cried. I was so excited to see this leg," recalled Erica. "I still remember the first time I walked on it because that was the moment I felt my life had completely changed."

With her family by her side, taking those first steps on her Genium X4 became one of the most memorable moments of Erica's recovery. "Dorset Orthopaedic and Dr Kang from ReLimb were just superb," said Erica. "I was able to walk on my own again and I never looked back."

Before the accident, Erica had always loved being active. She had previously spent years walking her dogs every day, whether in the park or along the beach. Swimming was another passion, but following her osseointegration surgery she was advised to stay out of the water for at least 18 months to reduce the risk of infection.

When she finally returned to swimming during a holiday with her husband, it marked another important milestone. Her husband filmed the moment she entered the water for the first time and Erica later shared the footage with David and Nikki, who had supported her throughout her rehabilitation. Reflecting on how far she has come, Erica said: "I was very conscious of my prosthetic leg when I first got it, and now I see it as part of my journey. These are my scars and I've lived to tell the tale."

Today, Erica continues to embrace an active lifestyle and is looking forward to returning to regular exercise at her local gym. She has also considered returning to work at the veterinary practice, something that once seemed hard to imagine during the early stages of her recovery.

Reflecting on the difficult months following her amputation, Erica hopes her experience will encourage others facing a similar situation. “Time passes quicker than you think. Before you know it, you've already overcome so many hurdles that seemed daunting at the start. Just take each day as it comes and keep moving forward,” said Erica.

When asked what advice she would give to others beginning their own rehabilitation journey, her answer was simple: “Positivity is the way forward. Don't let anything get you down and just focus on being the best version of yourself every day.”