Alice Tai, a 22-year-old British Paralympic swimming champion, has had her right leg amputated below the knee to alleviate pain and restricted movement resulting from a club foot condition she was born with.
Tai took to Instagram to announce the surgery, reassuring her followers with the message, “I am healthy, happy, and thriving so please don’t panic!”
The Rio 2016 medley relay winner, who has also garnered seven gold medals at the World Championships, revealed that the idea of amputation was first considered when she was 13. However, surgeons advised her to wait until her body had stopped growing before making a decision.
Sharing images of her amputated foot, Tai wrote:
…it’s gone!!
Firstly I’d just like to say that I am healthy, happy and thriving so please don’t panic!
5 days ago (13/01/2022), at around 18:30, I had my right leg amputated below the knee.
Over the last few years, the pain in my right foot has worsened. Both of my ankles are fused and arthritic, but my right one has always been more troublesome and non-functional.
I first asked my surgeons about the possibility of amputation in 2012 (13y/o). There were no more corrective surgeries that could give me significant mobility improvements whilst reducing pain. At the time it was agreed that amputation was an option, but that they’d rather perform it after I’d stopped growing. Since then it’s never really left the back of my mind and I was just waiting on a good time to ‘fit it in’. Last year I realised I was wasting time- if a better quality life was possible (crutch free, less likely to wreck me arms), what was I waiting for? The plan was brought back into action and, after consultations, scans and tests, a surgery date was proposed. Now I have no right leg below the knee. 🙂
I’ve spent 5 days in hospital (so little??!) and was discharged this morning. I feel great and the pain is minimal. The only down side was nausea for 24 hours post surgery (thank god for anti-sickness medications). Aside from that, there have been no issues at all. The medical team who’ve been involved since the surgery are incredibly optimistic about my recovery. As am I!
I know a lot of people probably didn’t see this coming; very few people knew. I wanted to make sure the surgery was successful before sharing
I also want to say a huge thanks to all my partners and support teams who’ve been here with me on this journey. The continued support through all of these surgeries means the world to me, words really aren’t enough. Thank you!