Student nurse with prosthetics aims to help others

1 day ago

Jason Arunn MurugesuNorth East and Cumbria

News image — Olivia Story has worn prosthetics since she was a child

Supplied Olivia Story as a child sitting on a black sofa and smiling with her legs up. On the floor in front of her are a series of prosthetic legs lined up. There is a chest of drawers in the corner of the photo. Story has ponytails and brown hair. — Olivia Story has worn prosthetics since she was a child

A student nurse has said she wants to help people in the same way NHS staff have helped her with her prosthetics since she was two years old.

Olivia Story, 22, has used prosthetic legs ever since she fell ill with meningitis and needed a triple amputation.

In that time, her prosthetics have been made and adjusted by the service at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle.

She said she had "always felt supported" by the organisation's staff and wanted to become a mental health nurse because she wanted to "make other people feel the same way".

Story said she had worked with the same prosthetist Neil Wallace for about 20 years.

"I have always trusted Neil," she said. "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."

Wallace said it had been a "privilege" to support Story.

"It has been lovely to see her grow, not just in size but confidence too," he said. "She has worked incredibly hard and we are all proud of her."

Supplied Olivia Story in black top and smiling at camera. She has long brown hair and a tattoo on her right arm. She is standing between two men who are both wearing grey T-shirts. The man on the left of the photo is holding two pink small prosthetic legs and smiling. He has grey hair. Neil Wallace is on the right holding two white prosthetic legs. On the walls in the background is TV and a piece of wall art. — Neil Wallace, right, has supported Olivia Story for about 20 years

The student nurse is in the final months of her degree and said that being a patient for so long would play a major role in how she conducted herself in her future career.

"Being a patient has definitely shaped how I want to work," she said.

"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."

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