AFTER years of constant pain, a breakthrough surgery will mean a new beginning for Stephanie Lloyd. 

The 43-year-old Armidale amputee has spent the past 25 years struggling to find a suitable socket that doesn’t cause her constant pain or fits. 

“I want to be able to do what everyone else takes for granted, I don’t want to feel disabled any more,” Ms Lloyd said. 

“I want to feel whole.”

In 1996, the United Campus book shop manager was involved in a car accident that resulted in her right leg being severed, a major head injury and multiple broken ribs. 

“I have been told many times that I shouldn’t have lived but here I am, it was a very long recovery,” she said.

But surviving was only the beginning and 12 surgeries later, Ms Lloyd said her leg was still vulnerable to infection and she was struggling to find a suitable prosthetic. “

I’m tired of this not working any more,” Ms Lloyd said.

After years of being told she was unsuitable for an osseointegration procedure, Ms Lloyd stumbled upon Australian surgeon Munjed Al Muderis. 

He is willing to perform the procedure and said it could change the lives of amputees. 

“They go from only thinking about the journey to thinking about the destination,” Dr Al Muderis said. “They don’t have to be disabled any more.”

But Ms Lloyd finances fell $28,500 short of the $200,000 needed for the operation.

A chance meeting with Armidale Dumaresq Lions Club President Carolyn Gadd changed that.

Now Ms Lloyd has the support of her community to help her achieve her dream. 

“I’ve never been so embraced in my entire life,” Ms Lloyd said. 

With a little help from Armidale CWA and Armidale Central Rotary Club, the Lions Club will be hosting a trivia night in Ms Lloyd’s honour. 

Ms Gadd said it began when Ms Lloyd met  one of their members on her morning walk and it all snowballed from there. 

“We decided that we wanted to help her as much as we could because despite the difficulties she’s faced over the last 25 years, she hasn’t given up,” Ms Gadd said. 

“And when you think about if Steph’s surgery  is a success, it will open the door for other amputees.”

The trivia night will be held on Friday March 18 from 7.30pm at the Armidale City Bowling Club, book your place www.armidaledumaresq.nsw.lions.org.au0

“I still have so much to give and I just need a hand to get to this point,” Ms Lloyd said.

To  book your place at the Trivia Night for Steph, visit  www.armidaledumaresq.nsw.lions.org.au.