Matthew Ames and his rehab team form a mutual appreciation society

QUADRUPLE amputee Matthew Ames has inspired his rehab team and other patients with his incredible spirit. Matthew says without them he wouldn’t have come so far as he has.

courage section

COURAGEOUS quadruple amputee Matthew Ames and his rehab team enjoy a delightfully mutual relationship – as much as they support and encourage him in his recovery, he inspires them with his grit and indomitable spirit. Along the way, he’s proved a shining role model for other amputees in his rehab unit.

Mr Ames fell into a coma in June last year after his body was attacked by the aggressive streptococcal A bacterium. His wife Diane then had to decide on his behalf whether to have all four limbs removed to save his life. Despite the shock of waking from his coma as a quadruple amputee, Mr Ames’ courage, stoicism and positive attitude have astounded and inspired his friends, family and medical team. Those qualities have made Mr Ames a finalist in the Courage Medal in the 2013 Pride of Australia.

The 39-year-old engineer from Camp Hill said his medical team at the Mater Private Hospital Brisbane Rehabilitation Centre had gone above and beyond to support him in his determination to push himself in his recovery.

“Without their support there’s no way I would’ve come as far as I have, as fast as I have,” Mr Ames said. “There’s no manual for a quadruple amputee with no elbows and no knees, so I can scare a few health practitioners ... it’s not something they face every day.”

Mr Ames said his team had let him take “calculated risks” with his rehabilitation such as letting him learn to climb stairs and even bounce on a trampoline to give him some big-muscle activity.

“When I said I wanted to climb stairs they looked at me like I was crazy, but they let me have a crack anyway.”

Mater rehab co-ordinator Deirdre Cooke said Mr Ames’ “total dedication to his recovery” was astounding and had inspired other patients with fewer and less severe amputations than his.

“The inspiration he has provided to all staff is amazing, there was no challenge or no hurdle too big,” Ms Cooke said. “He couldn’t even sit up and had no core strength at all, yet he wanted to climb stairs so we put down rubber matting and off he went. On the trampoline we just put a helmet on him and he was away. Give him a task or a goal and he’ll achieve it.”

Pride of Australia medal winners will be announced tomorrow. Queenslanders can vote for their favourite medallist from October 6 to 28, with the People’s Choice Medal awarded on November 15. Visit prideofaustralia.com.au to vote.