Nova Scotia MLA Alfie MacLeod back at work after foot amputation

HALIFAX – A Progressive Conservative MLA in Nova Scotia who had his foot amputated this summer is back at the House for its opening session.

On Thursday, Alfie MacLeod, the representative for Sydney River-Mira-Louisbourg, arrived at Province House in a wheelchair with his two daughters and one-month-old granddaughter in tow.

MacLeod was hospitalized in August for a serious infection, then two days later announced he had undergone surgery to remove his left foot.

MacLeod said the decision to remove his foot was a difficult one to make.

“It was a lot harder than getting into politics I can tell you that,” he said with a laugh.

“It was a big decision. We talked about it as a family, what it would mean, some of the challenges, it would bring. It was hard getting my own head around it in a couple days.”

But ultimately he said he knew an amputation was the right thing to do so he could keep doing the things he loves.

“We got a good surgeon and got a good anesthesiologist. I was awake during the process. They did the removal and it’s been onward and upward every since.”

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MacLeod, who said he was feeling “great”, is keeping an optimistic outlook on his physical condition.

“I’ve lost my foot but I haven’t lost my mind,” he said.

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“I might be a foot shorter than last time everybody saw me but I’m not stopped and I’m not finished. I have a lot of work I still want to do.”

MacLeod said he wanted to come back to work because it is good for his physical and mental state. He also said he will be staying on as an MLA.

“This is a job I love doing, have always loved doing and I’m a very fortunate individual.”

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Fellow PC MLA Eddie Orrell, who is a physiotherapist and has been helping MacLeod with his rehab, said MacLeod has an excellent attitude.

“He’s bound and determined to be back on his feet again sooner than later,” Orrell said.

He said MacLeod’s focus now needs to be getting his left leg back to full strength then relearning how to walk with the prosthesis on his leg.

“Balance is usually a challenge because you’re now starting to walk with something you can’t really feel underneath there,” Orrell said. “But he’s got good movement and good sensation in the other leg. I think he’ll get along just fine.”

MacLeod said doctors have told him there are no concerns with his right foot.

He is starting a rehabilitation program, which will take four to six weeks, and plans to get the prosthetic foot later this year.