A woman tragically had to undergo a leg amputation after accidentally dropping a bottle of perfume on her foot, causing severe injury.
A mother from Morecambe, Lancashire, named Gill Haddington, faced a life-changing situation after accidentally dropping a bottle of perfume on her foot.
This seemingly minor incident led to severe complications that resulted in the amputation of her leg.
Woman loses one of her legs after accidentally dropping bottle of perfume on foot
In September 2015, Gill accidentally knocked over an empty perfume bottle while in her bedroom.
At first, she felt a sharp pain and thought she might have broken her foot. “I cried out in pain,” she said.
However, X-rays showed no fractures, and she was sent home, expecting to recover.
Unfortunately, Gill’s condition worsened over time. Her foot swelled to twice its size, developed painful ulcers, and became increasingly deformed.
She struggled with constant agony, which made it difficult for her to walk.
As a result, she felt trapped in her own home and relied heavily on her family for support.
“When I first did it I cried out in pain, I lifted my foot to look at it and it hurt so much I couldn’t put it back down again,” she recalled. “Initially I thought I must have broken it – I wish I had.”
Chronic pain significantly impacted Gill’s life.
Living with chronic pain took a toll on Gill’s life. She couldn’t sleep properly and often found herself on the sofa with her foot elevated to ease the discomfort.
“I don’t think I slept at all at that time. It hurt too much to be laid up in bed.
“Instead I would sleep on the sofa with my foot propped on a box to keep it in position, any movement I made in the night would wake me.”
Her partner, Pete Nisbet, frequently took her to the hospital in search of relief. Despite repeated visits, her pain continued unabated.
Diagnosis of chronic regional pain syndrome
In May 2016, Gill was finally diagnosed with chronic regional pain syndrome.
This condition causes severe pain following an injury, and it was clear that her situation was dire.
Gill expressed her desire to have her leg amputated, but many around her found it hard to believe she wanted such a drastic solution.
“I had already started talking about wanting my leg removed, but everyone couldn’t believe what I was saying,” Gill shared.
“My leg was already dead to me, it was the cause of so much pain and unhappiness and I just wanted to get on with my life.
“I wanted to be able to walk again and to go swimming.”
By February 2017, Gill was desperate for help and was referred to a specialist.
During the appointment, she pleaded with the doctor to consider amputation. Initially hesitant, the specialist eventually recognized the extent of her suffering and agreed to the procedure.
Gill chose amputation to relieve suffering.
In May 2017, Gill underwent surgery at Royal Preston Hospital. The surgeons removed her leg below the knee, aiming to relieve her from the persistent pain.
When she woke up after the operation, her partner was overjoyed, saying, “I can see I’ve got my Gill back.” This moment marked a new beginning for Gill.
She explained: “The specialist didn’t want to do it at first, but he saw how much pain I was in and he relented.
“In a way, I am pleased the pain was so bad. He could see there was no turning back from what was happening to me. This was the only way out.”
Gill embraced her new life with resilience.
After the surgery, Gill used a wheelchair and began physical therapy. By September 2017, she received her first prosthetic leg.
The moment was a joyful milestone for her. “I hadn’t walked for almost three years,” she shared. The prosthetic leg allowed her to regain mobility and independence.
With her new leg, Gill felt empowered to return to activities she loved, especially swimming.
She expressed how free she felt in the water, stating, “Nothing hurts. It’s fantastic.”
As part of her recovery, she decided to participate in the John West Great North Swim, aiming to swim one mile for charity on June 8.
“The prosthetic isn’t perfect but I love it so much, having my leg removed was the best thing I ever did. I don’t regret it at all.”
“I love swimming, I feel free when I swim, nothing hurts. It’s fantastic,” she beamed.