Jordan back home

Fourteen year old Jordan has been back at home with mum Tracey, dad Dean and brother Kai following amputation of his right leg at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Middlesex.

The teenager, who has Proteus Syndrome, made the difficult decision to have the operation because he could no longer cope with the pain he was suffering.

In the meantime he has been celebrating the news that he passed two GCSE's, in English and Statistics, two years ahead of time, and was glad before his surgery to have landed a Saturday job helping out at Carroll's in Ninfield Road.

Jordan was also one of the finalists at the Bexhill Achievers when he was nominated for Gill Hamilton Young Person of the Year Award, which was collected on his behalf by Janet and Barry Towner.

"He was pleased," said Tracey.

"They have already brought his certificate round and the voucher, so he will be going on a shopping trip to use that up."

Jordan is going back on Friday for the stitches to come out and for a cast to be taken of 'Forrest' which is the family nickname for his stump.

On Monday Jordan visited his classmates at Bexhill High for two hours to catch up with them and tell them not to expect him back until November.

He has been keeping up with his coursework at hospital and is keen not to fall behind.

Next week (Monday September 28) he will be back at RNOH to begin working towards the fitting of his new prosthetic limb - Jordan has to do daily physiotherapy exercise to build up muscles to be ready for this next stage.

Tracey said: "He will be in hospital for four to six weeks, allowed home at weekends. Fitting of the prosthetic will take place on Tuesday September 29 and Thursday October 1.

"He is doing well, has physio exercises to do two to three times a day - still getting phantom pains but has special drugs to dampen that down."

She said it will take "a long time" for Jordan to build up towards using the prosthetic but commented: "He is alright - he is fine. He is pleased at how it is all going.

"The doctors are really pleased with his progress and how he is healing. The next challenge is to fit the prosthetic and see if he can manage to walk on it. Then he is talking about having the other leg done, but first he will see how he gets on with this one."