David and Vicki are a married couple who live north of Newcastle in NSW and currently attend the APC Hunter Clinic. David and Vicki have seperate amputation stories, but a strong marriage and shared passion for Lawn Bowls.
Vicki’s amputation story begins in February 2000, being a volunteer firefighter, Vicki received a call during her lunch break to fight a fire. Unfortunately, the truck moved while her hand was near the winch, leading to a serious injury. Vicki underwent a total of 44 operations in an attempt to save her hand, and in 2020, Vicki’s hand was amputated. This is when Vicki began attending APC Hunter, seeing Paul who is now her prosthetist.
David’s amputation story begins in 2014, after being married for six months. David was involved in an accident where his leg was severely injured, resulting in 16 breaks in the lower part of his leg. Following the accident, David spent three years on crutches, and his leg was amputated six years ago. David became an APC Client after Vicki recommended the clinic to him and suggested that he also come to our Hunter Clinic.
Shortly after losing her hand, Vicki’s friends convinced her to take up playing Lawn Bowls. Since picking up this new hobby, Vicki and David have fallen in love with the sport, keeping themselves busy playing bowls! Vicki has participated in nationals 3 times and earned a silver medal in 2022. Her goal is to win a gold medal in her next competition.
Vicki wants to inspire other amputees with her message: “Never give up. Always try, and you’ll be amazed at what you can do. David’s got the arms, I’ve got the legs, and between the two of us, we cope. While there are things we can’t do, we always give it our best shot!”
Vicki and David frequently travel to various locations to participate in Lawn Bowls competitions and to join other clubs. They have visited Ulladulla, Tasmania, Western Australia, Mackay, Gold Coast and more!
Vicki is heading to the Nationals in Western Australia in September, and she has the State Singles title coming up in November this year. Let’s wish them the best of luck!
