Amputee dad to get his Christmas wish
ADAD who became a double amputee after he nearly died on holiday will finally get his Christmas wish – a new pair of legs.
It’s been an incredibly demanding year for Matthew Parkes, 39, who last summer was given days to live after contracting sepsis and collapsing on holiday in Majorca.
Following months in a coma, the brave dad had to have his legs amputated at Wythenshawe Hospital.
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition where the body attacks its own tissue and organs.
One year on and life is now very different for Matthew, his wife Pamela and their daughter Sophie, who live in Cheadle Hulme.
But thanks to family love and support Matthew, who joined a panel for charity UK Sepsis Trust at the House of Commons in July, has learnt to embrace life again.
And having raised more than £14,000 in donations throughout 2016 – plus some government funding – he can now afford his dream legs to help complete his recovery.
Next month, he will be fitted for them – plus prosthetics for the thumb and forefinger on his left hand, which he also lost to sepsis.
Matthew, Pamela and their daughter Sophia, five, had a quiet family Christmas in preparation for the important operation.
Matthew, 39, said: “Getting better legs is massively important. I do the school run and am out and about most days.
“But when I get home I want to rip them off they are so uncomfortable. Better prosthetics will make so much difference, thank you to everyone who has supported us and donated.”
He added: “Support from family and friends has been unbelievable. Pamela has been the most supportive and loyal wife, she’s got me through this. I don’t know how she did it.”
In February, Matthew will brave a parachute jump to raise cash for the Sepsis Trust.
Wife Pamela, 41, a marketing director, is now working to support her family, including their three children Sophia, Luka, 12, and Helena, 13.
She said: “It’s been hard, challenging, the most bizarre year of our lives.”
You can donate to the parachute jump at mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/matthewparkesskydive.