My name is Amonrat Jamporn, but my friends call me Nid. I was born in Thailand and now live in Australia with my husband Alex and two children, Diw and Alicia. In May 2015, I was involved in a motorbike accident while in Thailand where I sustained serious injuries resulting in the loss of my left leg above the knee. It was a very scary and worrying time not knowing what my future would hold being so young, but with the support of friends and family, I have gotten back to a very active lifestyle.
Getting my first prosthetic was a very exciting yet challenging time as I had to learn to walk all over again. However, with perseverance, I was able to not only walk but get back into playing badminton, a sport I loved pre-accident. In 2018, I started participating in some tournaments in Australia. With the help of Ian Bridge from Para-Badminton Australia and my trainer Brian Koentjoro from NBC who offered to coach and support me, I played my first Para-Badminton event in Geelong, Melbourne. In 2019, I went on to compete in my first overseas international tournament in Bangkok, Thailand where I won my first international match.
After getting a real taste of competitive badminton on the world stage, I was very happy with how my first major tournament went. However, I realised I was at a huge disadvantage with my prosthetic leg compared to other competitors. I was using my basic everyday prosthetic leg which restricted my movement and ability to be agile on the court, compared to my peers who were wearing sports-specific legs. Upon my return to Australia and with the help of the NDIS and the amazing people at APC Prosthetics, I was fitted with the Össur RHEO KNEE XC for my new everyday leg, and the Flex-Run sports blade which I now use to play badminton. Since being fitted with the Flex-Run, this has developed my badminton game to a much higher level and my movement has gone from about a 2/10 to a 10/10. This gives me the confidence to compete with the best Para-Badminton players on the world stage.
Compared to my previous legs, being fitted with the RHEO KNEE XC has been a game-changer. It has given me the confidence to go about everyday tasks, like chasing my kids, without having to worry about the stability of my leg or falling (which I often had on my old leg). My friends and family have seen massive growth in my confidence levels as I can now participate in a lot more activities like taking long walks and playing in the park with my kids. I am now able to complete chores around the home which I used to take for granted, such as carrying baskets of washing up and down our back steps. I can now walk up and down steep hills (which used to be near impossible) and many other daily tasks that most people take for granted.
As a busy mum doing school drop-offs, taking care of our young family, as well as attending 2x badminton training and 2x social games a week, the Össur prosthetic legs have been life-changing to me and my family. I now feel I can achieve anything in life.
Nick Haw being Nid’s prosthetist has seen her progress from having a history of falls to becoming more confident and active on her microprocessor knee.
“Nid had a history of falls, not because of balance issues, but because she was a highly active person with a prosthesis that couldn’t keep up with her busy lifestyle. The RHEO KNEE XC has allowed her to walk with greater confidence and greater speed, including running to keep up with her kids when needed.”
To achieve Nid’s badminton goals, it was important to fit her with a prosthesis that allowed her to be agile and move easily on the court.
“We had a meeting with Nid and her coach to discuss what other transfemoral amputees were using out there and what would be best for her. We ended up making her a badminton leg that has no knee. We trialled a few different high energy feet and she loved the Flex-Run. It brought an instant smile to her face. The energy return and grip she has on the floor allows her to move quickly in any direction, which is perfect for badminton.”
