Helping a loved one as they go through such a distressing and frightening time can be difficult for everyone. As well as it being a difficult time for the person going through it, we also appreciate how tough it can be for the parents, carers, friends and family members around them.  If you’re not sure where to turn for advice and support, FYF are here to help.
The Journey
Often the unknown can be the scariest part. If you’d like to know more about the process of amputation and what you might expect along the way, you can find all the info here, although please be warned some of the information is very detailed. Emotionally, everyone deals with things differently and sometimes it can take a while to process the loss of a limb. When they’re ready, try to encourage your friend or family member to chat to us too, often chatting to a fellow amputee can help. You can find out more information of the support available to your loved one here.
Talking To Others
We have a private Facebook group ‘FYF Family & Friends’ if you’d like to link up with other people who have supported their loved one through an amputation. This can be a great way to get advice from those who’ve been where you are. You’ll find the link to join this group on the right hand side of the page. We can also put you in touch with another parent/carer/family member if you’d rather have a chat on the phone and please know that you’re always welcome to phone up our office number and we’ll help where we can.
Parents/Carers
Firstly, please know you’re not alone in going through this process and children are so much more resilient than we realise. If you would like to be in touch with other parents in a similar position to you, feel free to join our private Facebook group which you’ll find the link to on the right-hand side of this page. If you prefer to chat on the phone, we can also put you in touch with another parent who can share their advice and experience with you. Please remember, you’re welcome to phone the FYF Office for advice anytime and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. Have a look and see some of the things our Junior Troopers have been up to here.
Some Practical Tips
Resources: In the initial stages, financial and practical issues might be on your mind. We have a great resources section on our website which is full of helpful information on many different topics. You may be wondering which benefits and grants you might be entitled to, perhaps you’re a parent looking for books to help your child cope with their amputation or maybe you’d like some advice getting into sports. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please get in touch.
Emotional Support: Just because you aren’t the person having the amputation, it doesn’t mean that sometimes things can’t feel a bit overwhelming for you too. If you’re finding things hard to process and feel you’d benefit from further support, please reach out… Speak to your GP, call Samaritans (116 123) or text SHOUT to 85258 where trained advisers can chat you through your worries.
Here’s Aileen talking about her experience of supporting her son Grant through his amputation and how she reached out for support.
Very occasionally we’ll send out family support information including details of any virtual chats we have planned. These are a great chance to meet and have a chat with other friends and family members in a similar situation to yourself. If you’d like to be kept informed please pop your details below.