When you undergo amputation surgery, you are profoundly challenged at every level of your being – physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. The indisputable fact is that your limb is permanently gone. How you respond to this reality depends on whether or not you give in to despair, and will determine whether you grow as a human being and heighten your appreciation of living.

The challenges you face are obvious, but the opportunities to grow in the face of adversity are just as dramatic. We hope that the information in this guide will answer some factual and practical questions about limb loss, but also inspire you to find positive meaning in your experience.

The real challenges that accompany the loss of your limb cannot be made to disappear, but through rehabilitation, their negative effects can be minimised.

The word ‘rehabilitate’ means ‘restore’. After surgery, your rehabilitation goal should be to restore your body, mind and spirit.