In a way the story of the loss of my arm is a little strange. However, somebody might be interested.

At the beginning, it was "only" a broken arm. But with a catch. The accident (slipped on a rock and fell) did not happen around here, but in the cosy surroundings of a not so nice, far away jungle. All we (that means me and the friend who was with me) could do was bring me to the next town (what we would call a village). There was even a doctor, and I guess he did the best he could before I was brought to the nearest (nearest, in this case, has nothing to do with near) hospital.

They did what is usually done with a broken arm, took care for the wound and put it into cast. However, the wound, as might have been exspected, had become infected. When they finally took "measures" I guess it was too late, the result was amputation.

Ok, bad luck. If the same thing had happened in a highly developed country, many things would very likely not have occured. Probably the wound would have been treated correctly before the infection became dangerous. Probably after it broke out an amputation could still have been avoided. And, finally, here they would not have taken off the whole arm (as seems to be usual there) but the doctors would have restricted themselves for the necessary minimum, leaving me at least with a useful stump.

Well, I don't blame these people. They did their best.

Afterwards I tried to get back home as soon as possible, which was a couple of weeks after the amputation. Not a nice flight! Back here, in hospital, not much could be done, the arm was gone for good.

I managed to get used to it (not that I had a choice), learned to use my left hand and get along quite well. Not having a stump a prosthesis is of limited use, so I don't use one. I have, however, a cosmetic prosthesis, but it is resting peacefully somewhere in the cupboard.

Well, hello all, I am absolutely new here. For the moment you will see me from the back, but I will probably change mind and view later. :-)