RMC Impact Report 2022-23 v15 - Flipbook - Page 9
Health & Wellbeing
Beneficiaries’ stories
Re-enabling
hope
David Pither left the Royal
Marines in 1987 and pursued
a 26-year career in the Avon
and Somerset Police. During
the latter part of his time
in the police he started to
suffer from several serious
medical problems, including
Deep Vein Thrombosis
(DVT) in his left leg.
Health &
Wellbeing
David left the force in 2016 and moved
to Portugal, where he had two privately
funded procedures on his leg. This
cost circa £10K. Unfortunately, again
these operations were unsuccessful
and in 2019, he had a below-theknee amputation of his left leg.
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In February of that year, he saw a
consultant orthopaedic surgeon where
a request was placed for a prosthetic
that could be used for running and
cycling. In the 19 months that followed,
Re-enabling
independence
Andrew Seddon joined
the Royal Marines Band
Service immediately after
his 16th birthday, having
had to wait a week to
join his fellow recruits.
He passed out of training with the
Royal Marines Corps of Drums in
1976, receiving the Premier Drum
Company award for Best Drummer.
In 1989, Andrew lost 11 friends when
the IRA bombed the Royal Marines
Band room at Deal Barracks, Kent.
On leaving the service, he struggled
with his mental health and battled
addiction. During this time, he busked
to make money and, on better
days, taught classical guitar lessons
and played gigs at weddings.
RMA – The Royal Marines Charity Impact Report 2022–2023
www.rma-trmc.org
nothing was heard, all enquiries
proved negative and he remained
wheelchair bound. In 2020, RMA –
The Royal Marines Charity learned
of his problems and tasked a Royal
British Legion caseworker. David
was given a prosthetic which was,
at best, not fit for purpose and he
sought further private medical care.
It transpired that the limb was not
the one the consultant ordered but
because of financial constraints,
it was the best the health service
could provide. Again, the Charity got
involved and an approach to BLESMA
was made. From here on in, the
future started to look brighter. After
consultation with BLESMA, David was
tasked to get quotes for a privately
made prosthetic which was done along
with several physiotherapy sessions.
assisting 25 dogs at any one time.
The newly funded prosthetic allowed
David to reconnect with the dogs.
“Sky joined us in December 2020.
He had been on a chain for much
of his short life and was attacked
by another dog. He was left with
a compound fracture for two days
before medical treatment was
sought. Despite two surgeries to
repair the damage, infection had
already set in, and amputation was
the only option. I like to think that
we have been great support for
each other over the last year.
This prosthesis has changed my
life. It has helped me regain a
quality of life and allow me to
resume some normal activities.”
It was agreed that BLESMA and RMA
– The Royal Marines Charity would
finance the new prosthetic. David runs
a dog rescue centre in Portugal,
“Thank you...
for giving me
back my life.”
Andrew’s son, Joe, helped him
through this tough period and
they spent precious time exploring
and cycling to new places, and
during Covid lockdowns, he
called his bike a ‘lifesaver’.
Our Casework Manager took the
distressed call from Andrew who,
together with the Royal British
Legion, was able to get the necessary
paperwork done and purchase
a replacement bike for him.
Unfortunately, in September 2021
the bike was stolen from his shed. It
was not insured and, unable to afford
to replace it, he returned to his ‘old
ways’ and ‘toxic friends’. Andrew
began drinking heavily again, and his
mental health deteriorated rapidly; he
was bereft and overwhelmed by his
situation and could see no way out.
He is now able to go out and about
again with his son, has made new
healthy friends in the mountain bike
community, has given up alcohol,
cigarettes (and vapes) and, having
updated his website, too, is back
playing and teaching guitar.
A friend suggested contacting
RMA – The Royal Marines Charity
for any help they might give.
Andrew says that the help,
encouragement and support from the
Charity have been invaluable to him.
“Brilliant news...
a fantastic start
to the year!”
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