MONTREAL — Sarah Stott’s story of strength and courage has moved many Montrealers, and so far a crowd-funding campaign has raised more than $75,000 to help the Ottawa native.
The 22-year-old’s life changed forever last December, when she was hit by a freight train, and the thought of starting over is daunting.
READ MORE: ‘She has an amazing heart,’ friends raise money to help woman who was hit by train
“It’s just going to be really different to live a day-to-day life, you have to get everything more adaptable for your house like for you toilet and shower and everything” said Sarah Stott, who is now trying to focus on the future.
The recovery after losing limbs is without a doubt excruciating, both physically and emotionally.
“She’s going to have to mourn her legs, it’s a loss, people don’t realize how much of a loss that is,” said Christine Caron, who recently lost her legs and an arm from a rare bacterial infection.
“I had my legs amputated and my arm, and I got through that fine,” said Caron.
“But when they took the tips of my fingers, I suffered post traumatic stress syndrome. I’m still not totally recovered and that’s over a year.”
Life after amputation
The Ottawa mother of four wants Sarah Stott to know that there is life after amputation.
Caron learned to walk and even run again at the same rehabilitation facility where Stott will transferred at the end of the month.
“She can’t even imagine at this point what’s waiting for her, they’re going to give her back her life, she just doesn’t see it yet,” shared Caron.
Despite her despair, Stott is hopeful she’ll return to a normal life.
“I can’t wait to get prosthetic fingers I hope my hands heal the fastest,” said Stott.
WATCH: Sarah Stott shares her story of courage
The high cost of recovery
Purchasing prosthetic limbs will likely be Sarah’s next big challenge.
A set of state-of-the-art legs can cost up to half a million dollars. Medicare and The War Amps will cover some of the costs and hopefully fundraising will make up for the rest.
“When we’re talking about micro-processor knees, we’re talking over $75,000 per knee — and that’s just one leg.”
“She needs two, so it’s going to be really costly and expensive, that’s for sure,” said Louis Bourassa, the Champ Program Director for Quebec.
Moral support vital
The War Amps also offers countless programs to help with recovery, including matching old and new amputees for moral support.
“When Sarah will have the need to meet someone else, we’ll arrange for that,” said Bourassa.
In Caron’s case, support was key in moving forward.
“I’ve had friends who stayed away for a while because they were afraid,” said Caron.
“It’s scary for everybody involved, friends, family, but support is the most important!”
Sarah Stott will be transferred to Ottawa on March 1, and despite her fears, she knows better days are ahead.
“I look forward to getting out of here, going to rehab and getting out of rehab!”
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