Sue Moss

I Will Get You Walking Again. 28th July, 1968 was a day that changed my life. From being a fit, attractive and energetic 20 year old mum with an 8 month old baby I became an unattractive, disabled female with little hope of continuing to live a normal life. On this day, I was involved in a serious road accident that left me with a badly disfigured face, brain damage with memory loss, multiple vision, a hand that had been sewn back after being almost severed and not knowing if I would gain full use, and a badly damaged pelvis that left me unable to walk and in excruciating pain. As a result of this accident my life changed dramatically and at times I wondered how I could continue on with the amount of pain I was suffering.

When I was told that Dr. Leon Root, a surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery, might be able to help me, I made an appointment and went to see him. After examining me, Dr. Root said, "I don't know what I will do until you are on the operating table but I will work this out and I will get you walking again."

Dr. Root performed an amazing operation, a tendon transplant, to help straighten my leg and foot and relieve some of the pressure from the damaged pelvis. I spent some time on crutches learning to walk again and soon I was able to walk upright without lurching or dragging my foot. Unfortunately, the pelvis was so badly damaged that it could not be repaired. I am now 67. I still have chronic pain which has never gone away but I soon realized that the pain was the same whether I stayed in bed or went out with friends. I have not allowed this accident to take over my life. I swim, exercise most mornings for 45 - 60 minutes and continue to work, and have just completed a dream holiday around America. Unfortunately, the pain is so bad at times that I have to support myself with the help of crutches, but still I will not stop living and continue to work, socialize and holiday for as long as I can keep going. Thanks to Dr Leon Root and his support team at the Hospital for Special Surgery I have been able to continue living and walking. It has taken me 44 years to return to New York to visit Dr. Root and thank him for the years that he has given me. I really cannot thank him enough. He gave me encouragement and a will to go on living.