For nearly twenty years, Olivia Story has been supported by the prosthetics team at the Cumberland Infirmary and is about to step into a new role as a mental health nurse, carrying her lived experience into her future career.
Olivia has been coming to the prosthetics service at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle since she was a toddler. Now 22, she is close to qualifying as a mental health nurse. She says the care she has received over the years will shape the kind of nurse she wants to become.
Olivia became seriously ill with meningitis when she was just 2 years old and needed a triple amputation. She has used prosthetic legs ever since. As she grew, this meant regular appointments, new legs and lots of adjustments.
The prosthetics she uses are all made on site in the workshop at the Cumberland Infirmary, which is run by North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust. This means the team can adjust, repair and remake her legs quickly when needed. Phil, who works in the workshop, made Olivia’s very first legs as well as her latest pair.
Her mum remembers coming to the service several times a year, which could last up to 2 hours each time.
Mum Kim Brown said: “It has always felt like a family here, we never felt like we were waiting in a busy clinic. The staff always took their time with us and made Olivia feel comfortable. We feel lucky to have this service.”
The Specialist Rehabilitation and Mobility Service supports people across north Cumbria with prosthetics, wheelchairs and other mobility aids. The centre is one of only nine in England to achieve Murrison Centre status, meaning it is recognised nationally for its specialist support for amputee veterans.
For Olivia, having the same prosthetist throughout her childhood made a big difference. She has worked with Neil for around 20 years, since she began needing prosthetics.
Olivia said: “I have always trusted Neil. He has known me since before I can even remember and I feel completely comfortable telling him if something does not feel right. It makes a huge difference when you have that relationship.
“Whatever the problem was, they always fixed it. I was always seen quickly, and everyone was kind.”
Mum added: “When Olivia was younger, the team even kept a height chart on the wall of the clinic. Each time she came in for new legs, they marked how much she had grown. It became a regular part of her appointments.”
Now, after two decades of being a patient, Olivia is preparing to join the NHS herself. She is in the final months of her mental health nursing degree and has enjoyed placements on busy inpatient wards.
Both Olivia and her mum remember how important it was that staff supported her independence as she grew, something Olivia now carries into her nursing practice.
Olivia said: “Being a patient has definitely shaped how I want to work, I know how important it is to listen, to give people a voice and not make assumptions. Having that experience helps me understand what patients might be feeling.”
Olivia hopes to work on a male acute inpatient ward when she qualifies.
Olivia’s Prosthetist Neil Wallace said: “It has been a privilege to support Olivia throughout her childhood and into adulthood. It has been lovely to see her grow, not just in size but confidence too. She has worked incredibly hard and we are all proud of her.”
As Olivia prepares to step into her new career, she says she will carry the lessons she learned as a patient with her.
Olivia said: “I have always felt supported here, I want to make other people feel the same way.”