News

If you visit the Netcare Rehabilitation Hospital in Auckland Park, Johannesburg, you may see Louisa Brown, a vivacious patient liaison officer, making her rounds to chat with the amputee patients who come through their doors. Known for her genuine warmth and strength, Louisa’s presence brings hope to those facing tough challenges.

As she goes from bed to bed, you will notice that Brown herself has a prosthetic limb, which she displays with purpose and confidence. Aged 25, she lost her left leg in a motor car accident in 2002.

“I had been married for a year when suddenly my whole world crumbled. Going from having two healthy legs to waking up from a medically induced coma to realise I had lost a leg, was a devastating experience. My left leg had been amputated above the knee. I felt like I had no future ahead of me. I was asking myself, why did this happen to me?”

As she was still coming to terms with the daunting prospect of what this meant for her, and trying to obtain a well-functioning prosthetic leg, just a year after the accident, she fell pregnant with twins.

“After they were born, I had to try to walk around carrying the twins with a prosthetic leg that wasn’t up to scratch. I had little confidence at the time, but was left with no option but to push through the discomfort and irritation so I could take care of them. Unfortunately, I didn’t have access to the kind of rehabilitation care that is now on offer at Netcare Rehabilitation Hospital.” She describes her own journey as being physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually gruelling.

Pic: Patient liaison officer Louisa Brown works with amputees at the Netcare Rehabilitation Hospital in Auckland Park, Johannesburg.

 

Fast forward 23 years, and equipped with the knowledge she gained through her own experiences of learning to live with a prosthetic leg and coming to terms with everything that has meant, Brown is employed by Heinrich Grimsehl Orthotics & Prosthetics at the Netcare Rehabilitation Hospital. Her role is not merely a sympathetic member of staff, but also one who intimately knows what their amputee patients experience during their rehabilitation. “As soon as a new person coming to our hospital after an amputation sees me, they realise I look like them. I deliberately dress to show my prosthetic leg, wearing skirts, dresses or shorts. Immediately, they can see that I’ve walked this path myself and truly understand what they’re going through. All the information I give them comes from an amputee’s perspective. You can see their faces light up as they start to realise there’s hope for them to be like I am now. That brings comfort when their whole world has been turned upside down. "I understand where they are emotionally and psychologically. I tap into that, and as they see this strong woman, this amputee, standing in front of them, they have so many questions. They often open up to me and tell me things they don’t feel comfortable telling someone else. I never take that for granted.” Brown’s job allows her to comfort, motivate and praise others with genuine empathy, helping them through their rehabilitation journey. “They speak to me about phantom pain, or challenges they face at home, like going to the loo. Do you take your leg off? Do you sit with it on? Those are questions they know they don’t have to be embarrassed about with me, because I have lived that same experience. It is often about identity, masculinity or femininity.  If they come into the practice and say, ‘Please can I see Louisa,’ we know it’s something they only feel comfortable asking me.”

 

Brown says when people see her as a strong, independent woman, they may not realise it took a lot of work to get to this point.

“It was a tough journey of 23 years. So much work needed to be done in the background when I was on my own, even at night when I woke up with all these questions and then couldn’t sleep. All that work simply cannot happen during the six weeks in hospital while undergoing rehabilitation. I have to tell the person, it is going to take a few months or even a couple of years, perhaps, depending on where they are.”

Seeing the same person walk back into the hospital a year later, confident in their stride and having taken on board all the support and advice they’ve had from the team at Netcare Rehabilitation Hospital, is the best feeling for her. “Often, I’m like, what!?,” she laughs. “Sometimes I have to look twice. You would not even say they were an amputee, the way they walk. To think it is the same person who was lying helpless and depressed in bed a year ago, sometimes I hardly recognise them.

“I cannot stress enough the importance of having a multidisciplinary team on site, including doctors, nurses, prosthetists, dietitians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists and social workers. We take care of the patient holistically. There is real value in having the right help on hand, right there when you need it. Also, at the Netcare Rehabilitation Hospital, patients have other amputees around them to motivate them. I believe every amputee needs all this to help them reach their highest potential.”

She explains how patients are told step by step what to expect during their rehabilitation. “We take them through the whole process and hold family meetings where we give them the information they need to stick to the process and follow through. What we most want to see is a successful recovery, where our patients can go back home, to work or back to school.”

Brown’s twins are now 21 years old. She smiles. “I want to be the best example I can be for them, as a mom and as a human being, to show them they can overcome any trials life throws at them.”

Reflecting on Louisa’s profound impact, General Manager Gugulethu Setati shares, “Seeing Louisa in action moves me deeply. Her strength, compassion, and genuine care leave a lasting mark on everyone she meets. Beyond her vital role in rehabilitation, Louisa’s incredible talent as a photographer shines through in her work with our newsletter editorial committee, where she captures the spirit of hope and resilience we see every day. Her story of courage and rising above every challenge is one that I hope will inspire countless others.”

Learning to walk with a prosthetic leg

Brown says it’s exciting to be fitted with a prosthetic leg, because you look forward to being able to walk again.

“In your mind, you have this preconceived notion that you just put it on like a shoe and walk, but that’s not the reality. There’s extensive rehabilitation that needs to take place, and physiotherapy where you have to learn to walk again. I was lucky. I was 25 when the accident happened, so I was still young. I used to go to the gym daily, so I was in good shape.” She says being fit and healthy helped her to make a rapid recovery.

“When I was eventually able to put my prosthesis on and take a few steps, it was something I had dreamt of. There are still challenges like making sure your stump is comfortable inside the socket and avoiding getting rashes, bruises or anything that will interfere with your ability to walk again. You have to take care of yourself and your prosthetic leg.”
Brown says some amputees are so strong physically, and they’ve learned to walk well with their prosthetic. “Everyone thinks they’re fine, but they may be struggling mentally. Then we need to get the psychologist in. I can only do what I can do from my side.”

She adds that children are often the best candidates for prosthetics. She laughs as she says, “They come in and say, ‘Just give me the leg. I want to walk and run and still be a child.’ That’s exactly what we want too.”

Work as a vocation

“I look forward to work and I sometimes don’t even want to leave,” says Brown. “I like to walk around early in the morning or stand in the doorway of our practice and watch our patients on their way to the gym. Sometimes it is not even about talking to them. It is just letting them see me there, with my prosthetic leg, that encourages them. It’s an exciting, meaningful job, knowing I get to help motivate them to change their life.”
 
Ends.

Notes to editors
Experience seamless healthcare access with the Netcare App. Enjoy convenient healthcare anytime, anywhere, with expert medical care at your fingertips. Book appointments, consult with GPs virtually and manage pre-admissions all in one place. From emergency response services with geolocation to seamless admission, discover a new level of care. Download the Netcare App today.

Alternatively, contact Netcare Appointmed on 0860 555 565, Mondays to Fridays, 08:00 to 17:00, to make an appointment with a therapist, doctor or specialist practising at a Netcare hospital, Netcare Medicross or Netcare Akeso facility near you.

For media enquiries, please contact MNA at the contact details listed below: