Barry Porter reveals leg amputation journey in Mackay

Barry Porter is the face behind a thriving Mackay hardware store. But not everyone knows his incredible story of survival, which started after he put on shoes too big while cleaning his driveway. WARNING: Graphic images

Barry Porter is the face behind a thriving Mackay hardware store. But not everyone knows his incredible story of survival, which started after he put on shoes too big while cleaning his driveway.

Barry Porter could never have imagined cleaning his driveway could lead to a surgeon cutting off his leg.

But his life forever changed on Australia Day two years ago.

“I was cleaning my driveway, with an ill-fitting pair of sneakers on, and I got two blisters on my left foot,” the former Porters’ hardware industry managing director said.

“They progressively got worse and worse; they wouldn’t heal because I’m a diabetic.”

Those little blusters grew into huge sores and for six months, doctors battled to clear an infection.

Mr Porter was then sent to a Brisbane-based orthopaedics specialist who delivered a brutal final verdict.

“He said, ‘Sorry I’ve got bad news for you – if you don’t have your leg taken off within a week you will be dead within a month because the infection is now spreading into your spleen and into your liver, and next it will be into your kidney’,” Mr Porter said.

Barry Porter (far right) during Porters Mitre 10’s 135th birthday celebrations in Mackay. He is pictured with Gavan Snr Porter (left) and Paul Porter (middle).

He returned home to Mackay to talk to family, and then to his doctor and two days later, he underwent an amputation at the Mater Hospital. There a nurse recommended the Mackay Hospital and Health Service’s Community Health and Therapy Services rehabilitation program to him.

“I didn’t know what to expect or what I was going to do and how it was going to affect my life and everything, but I came out here and everybody was positive about it,” My Porter said.

He began his rehabilitation program with gusto, setting goals and conquering them.

“I had all these brilliant ideas that I was going to drive my car within six weeks, which I did,” he said.

“Then I set an aim of three months before I could walk, and that didn’t work out.

“I was just starting to get on top of it, and I got bloody Covid early last year and it nearly killed me.

Barry Porter taking part in the Mackay Hospital and Health Service’s Community Health and Therapy Services rehabilitation program. Picture: Contributed

“I was told ‘you’ve got no immunity, that’s the real problem; your body can’t fight any infection you get”.

“I couldn’t fight the Covid and then it got worse, and I got pneumonia and then I got a lung infection.

“I was in and out, in and out, of the hospital and the last time … I was really, really, sick and they put me in isolation.”

It was at this point doctors spoke to Barry and his family about preparing for the worst.

Barry Porter, of Mackay, had to have his leg amputated after a blister became infected. Picture: Contributed

“I didn’t understand it, though they told me, because I was out of it,” Mr Porter said.

“They talked to my daughter Kylie and said, ‘We don’t think your father’s going to make it. We’ll get you to sign all the documents re resuscitation etc.’

“But I just battled through it; I gradually got over it.”

For the next 12 months, Barry continued his recovery work including CHATS two or three times a week.

“Gradually, gradually, gradually I improved.”

Barry Porter taking part in the Mackay Hospital and Health Service’s Community Health and Therapy Services rehabilitation program with physiotherapist Josh Campbell. Picture: Contributed

CHATS physiotherapist Josh Campbell outlined the rehab program.

“We work a lot on strength, on flexibility of the hip and the knee and on your cardiovascular fitness which for Barry after having Covid, really needed work; there’s a lot of cardiovascular demand to walk on a prosthetic leg,” Mr Campbell said.

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Mr Porter clearly remembers some of highlights.

“After about six months Josh said to me, ‘we’re about ready to get you onto a leg’,” he said.

“You use an aid, a metal cage with a balloon on the inside essentially, so it gives someone the chance to stand up on a leg.

“It was the first time I stood up by myself for probably 18 months, and you know I’d stand in between those rails on this thing there and put me arms down and go ‘ahhhhhhhh’.

“It had been such a long time since I could stand like this – by myself.”

Barry Porter on day one at home with his new prosthetic leg. Picture: Contributed

Along with the physical battles came mental challenges as well.

“The biggest problem I had was mentally because I thought that I could do better,” Mr Porter said.

“I was right in the middle of it and Covid knocked me. I had a few unexpected setbacks.

“But you always get those thoughts – why me – why is this happening to me and that was probably one of the hardest things.”

A few weeks ago, Mr Porter got the news that his time at CHATS was at an end.

A permanent prosthetic limb is under construction, and his weekly visits are at an end.

The straight shooter has a final word on his experience with CHATS and Mackay HHS.

“I’d say ‘I’m going out to the Base; I’m doing my rehab,” Barry said.

“And people say, ‘Ah, how do you get on out at the Base?’ and I’d say ‘No problem at all.’