I am now 71 but in 1983 when I was 35 I had a terrible accident caused by a dog colliding with the back of my legs causing irreparable damage, the Surgeons were super and really tried to correct all the damage, then one night I had terrible pain only to find that I had gangrene, my limb was subsequently amputated 6" above the knee, that has left me disabled for life. It was very difficult for my late Husband who was my carer, he looked after me so kindly and well. We had a wonderful marriage for 38 years. Sadly very suddenly one day, my beloved Husband died he was only 61 there was no clue of illness. He had always been fit and well with annual health checks.As you can imagine I was devastated, beside myself with horror, we both loved each other so much we could never imagine being separated. It has made me realise how horrific it is. At the time we were concentrating on doing something for the Environment, we were Beekeepers which are the most important insect for pollination around the world, so we were doing ‘our bit’.

My Son and his lovely Fiancee looked after me for about a year, bless them I don't know where I would have been without them,I can never thank them enough it couldn’t have been easy for them, all my three youngsters were very supportive whilst going through their own grieving process Which was very hard for them, losing a parent is traumatic.

Now I was going to have to live alone and try to manage but have to pay for Carers. In 12+ years they have had over £100,000 and I am now living from hand to mouth existence, because any savings I had has gone on paying for 'Care'. My chances of ever getting to see Andre Rieu, which is where I need your help, are disappearing fast because of the horrendous ’care‘ costs.

We had been determined to go to see Andre Rieu in concert in Maastricht in Holland for a few years. Now we can never ever go together, it is my dearest wish that I go there and enjoy one concert and possibly meet Andre Rieu, he has been an Idol of ours for a long time now, I have many DVDs of his, but they are not the same as experiencing the a concert live. Even better would be to dance in my wheelchair like the Light Infantry do in those beautiful dresses , I would love to be dressed like that. Who knows perhaps one of his team might read this and make it possible, well I can dream, can't I ?

Imet my husband when I was helping to teach Ballroom at a local Dance Studio, it really was love at first sight. The Strauss music is total addictive we both loved it and couldn't help dancing if it came on the radio or TV, off we would go dancing around the room. As this is the very last holiday I would ever manage, it is very special to me that I go, it would be for both of us, even though I am a Widow, he would be there in my heart.. I have got to find and pay for a carer to go with me to stay in the Hotel as well, so I don't really know how much it would all cost. But it would be such a very Special Magical Holiday, i have a choice, realise a dream or Care i cannot have both, i have no savings anymore I cannot get help with Care costs which keep going up Annually.

This would be the very last treat I would ever have, please help me make it possible . Thank you to all those show kindness by helping me.

I too have helped others, i would hate anyone to think i sit at home rubbing my hands together like ‘Scrooge’

I would like those who read this to know, that I am not one of life's scroungers or takers. After my leg was amputated above the knee, I went to College to train as a Counsellor, as there wasn't anyone to help new amputees before their operation or after. It really needed to be someone who was amputated to understand it themselves, let alone the patient, what the they were going through, the mental Turmoil that goes with such a drastic surgery, if a non amputee tried I am sure they would be good at it, but I was in the ideal position to help, So training was the only answer. Before I qualified, I used to counsel on a voluntary basis, because it was really needed. There is so much that happens after you lose a limb, not least the basics of getting over it and moving on Phantom Pain has got to be the worst thing that happens, horrific pain in the leg and foot, you haven't got. Contrary to popular medical belief, it does not go away, it gets worse. I suffer with it 24/7 in my case it never goes away, so I understand all these things. My name became popular in this field and soon I was invited to other Hospitals around the Country to give lectures on Phantom Pain and what I describe as double disfigurement, the disfigurement you can see and the one no one can see.

I feel I have contributed to help others in many ways not least as a Counsellor, I am also a Fundraiser for 'Help for Heroes' as many of them are amputees, I have met many of these brave Soldiers who gave limbs to serve their Country. I climbed a little way up the mast of Tenacious with my artificial limb in 2008, Tenacious, is the largest sailing Barque in the world specially designed for disabled people, the Jubilee Trust who owns her does amazing work. For the climb I managed to donate both to the Jubilee Trust and also to Riding for the Disabled.

Over the years I must have raised a lot of money for various good causes.

Sadly my health is beginning to fail me more and more but i am not giving in, I want to live not exist. I still do what i can for other Amputees when I go to Sussex Rehab Centre where my new limbs are measured and those measurements are now used to make a new socket via a clever computer.

If anyone could help towards my trip to see Andre Rieu or help with ‘Care‘ costs , so I can fund myself to go to Holland, I would be so very grateful, it would bring back so many happy memories.

So maybe someone can help me, I soon will need adaptions to my home , like wider doorways for my wheelchair ,because at present they are too narrow.

I am at the moment trying to sell a lot of the craft fabrics, card, tools, and anything craft related as i can no longer do some of the things I used to make, i now suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis which makes my hands extremely painful, now distorted as well. I used to make a lot of lovely things and sell them for charity.. A percentage of the sale will go to “ Help for Heroes”. and Cancer research, so i am hoping my sale will go well.

Thank you all for reading my page

Sue