Daisy’s triumph on the beach
Former New Plymouth mayor David ‘Daisy’ Lean couldn’t feel the sand between his toes on the beach, but he sure felt the pride in his achievement.
Just a year after having a leg amputated above the knee because of gangrene, Lean walked unaided on his new prosthetic leg on Oakura Beach at the weekend, a seeming impossible goal he’d set while lying in a hospital bed.
Family and friends who supported Lean, 70, through the often painful rehabilitation process were there to celebrate what was a huge milestone.
‘‘The day was beautiful, absolutely beautiful,’’ Lean said.
By happenstance they’d chosen a day with a surf carnival under way, and brilliant sunshine to boot.
‘‘There were literally hundreds of kids in the junior surf.’’
Kevin Wood, Lean’s mate of more than 60 years and the man who challenged him to set the goal, said the presence of the surf club youngsters was a real highlight.
Both men are life members of the Old Boys’ Surf Club and forged their friendship training on Oakura Beach. ‘‘That was a highlight for Dais’ and myself to see all the young ones, it really gave you a buzz,’’ Wood said.
Lean’s triumph came after a year of gruelling effort and painful setbacks. He’s had much support from his family, especially wife Janet, and medical staff.
‘‘The kids have all been through when I’ve fallen over a few times and had major bruising and hurt my back by overdoing it and trying to move too fast.’’
One night in September last year he arrived home in pouring rain and there was nobody else home.
The wheelchair ramp he uses now wasn’t there, so he hauled himself out of his wheelchair and used his sticks to get up on to the deck.
‘‘The deck was slimy and I fell over and my phone bounced straight over onto the deck so I couldn’t see it,’’ he said.
‘‘I was lying there and it was pouring down with rain and I had no phone, no-one to call. It was pretty lonely.’’
Eventually his daughter Brooke arrived and helped him back up.
‘‘I jumped straight into the shower with my clothes on, it was that cold,’’ he said.
But he persisted, despite other falls that left him bruised, and kept practising his walking.
Now, he’s calling in debts from those who doubted he’d be back walking so soon.
‘‘I’ve been able to insist on payment of a few beers that most people bet me I couldn’t do it and were looking forward to getting the beer from me,’’ he said.
Rehabilitation physiotherapist Clodagh Armstrong, who worked with Lean through his rehabilitation, said she hoped others would find inspiration in his story.
‘‘Because of his age profile it is very unusual, it is a display of his determination and bravery,’’ she said.
‘‘I went out to the beach that day just off my own skin – I wanted to see him achieve it.’’
It was difficult for people to balance on uneven ground with a prosthetic leg.
‘‘It is challenging enough to walk at that age in a normal environment,’’ she said.
‘‘In an open environment where the terrain is uneven as well, that’s a double whammy and it took courage to do it.’’