Amanda's Story
Amanda Caminita, a vibrant 44-year-old from Slidell, experienced a life-altering accident during a family gathering. An innocent slip resulted in a broken toe, but as days passed, her condition worsened. Unbeknownst to her, Amanda had undiagnosed Type 2 Diabetes, which had caused her foot to deteriorate rapidly.
Discovered unresponsive and in critical condition, Amanda was rushed to the hospital, where her team fought to stabilize her body temperature and failing organs. The ordeal plunged Amanda into a five-day coma. To save her life, the decision was made to amputate her leg above the knee.
When Amanda woke, she was confronted with the reality of amputation. Though shocked, she understood it was necessary for survival. Determined to rebuild her life, Amanda resolved to become the strongest and most independent version of herself. Her journey led her to Northshore Rehabilitation Hospital, where she found expert care and support from her therapy team.
During her hospital stay, Amanda worked closely with physical and occupational therapists. She embraced occupational therapy to regain her self-care abilities, learning adaptive techniques for dressing and daily tasks. In physical therapy, Amanda focused on building her core and upper body strength, preparing herself for the future use of a prosthesis. Her therapists had her work on her leg strength by having her stand in the parallel bars and exercise while using weights and therabands.
Fueled by determination, she knew she would overcome obstacles. “This is just a little setback, I’m going to stand up again and I’m going to walk.” Amanda’s turning point came when she hopped while supported by parallel bars. This showed her that her leg strength had increased, and gave her hope and the motivation to keep working hard.
Amanda’s family was instrumental in her recovery, keeping her spirits up and supporting her. After 16 days of hard work and perseverance, Amanda was able to independently manage her self-care tasks such as getting out of bed, showering and toileting, and she could hop distances of up to 10 feet. However, her journey was far from over. Amanda continues her recovery through outpatient therapy, ready to embrace a new prosthesis and take her first steps towards walking again.
Reflecting on her experience, Amanda expressed gratitude for the hospital staff's dedication and teamwork in helping her reclaim her life. “I’ve loved every moment. You all have helped me so much. The way the staff works together to help people is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” Amanda shared.
Through her journey, Amanda discovered her inner strength. Her advice to fellow patients at Northshore Rehabilitation Hospital: “Have faith, keep your spirits up and realize that you can do anything you put your mind to.”