Alex Lewis, 38, has emerged from a life-changing ordeal with a great appreciation for life. She suffered severe amputation and needed extensive facial reconstruction. In November 2013, Alex initially cleared his symptoms as a common migraine. But within five weeks, he was in a coma as his organs began to shut down. Her condition rapidly deteriorated to strep A infection, strep a toxic shock syndrome, septicemia, and necrotizing fasciitis, with only a three percent chance of survival.
After more than half a year in hospital and 18 operations, Alex, from Over Wallop, Hampshire, embarked on an arduous journey to remarkable strength as the first transplant no other way to reconstruct his lips. Contemplating this transformative year, Alex remarked, “The past four years have been filled with more significant events than my initial 33 years, highlighting just how much I cherish Lucy and Sam.”
In contrast to the impact of an explosion, Alex initially grappled with accepting his altered appearance. However, he has since embraced his distinctiveness, expressing his gratitude for having a one-of-a-kind face.
It took six operations to restore Alex’s lip function, and over time the skin grafts have seamlessly fused with his cheeks and nose Despite his initial shock and discomfort no taste after the facial surgery, Alex was surprised that her lips worked again, and that now work like normal.
Now, Alex advocates for amputees and emphasizes the importance of proper post-operative care after life-changing surgery. While she praises the excellent care provided by the National Health Service (NHS) during her treatment, she highlights the financial difficulties she faces with ongoing care, which costs between £70,000 and £90,000 a year.
Alex is a passionate advocate for greater amputation support and cost-effective prosthetic solutions. He highlights the huge disparity in funding, with only £400 per person for prosthetics, a figure he finds shocking.
Despite the obstacles, Alex perseveres, collaborates closely with universities to shape the future of prosthetics, and raises awareness of this important issue He is committed to making a positive impact and stays true to it grateful for a new welcome to life. In Alex’s own words, the recent years have been “the most challenging yet marvelous” of his life, a testament to his exceptional resilience and determination.