Hannah Campbell
I was out in Iraq with the Adjutant General’s Corps—Staff and Personnel Support Branch from February 2007 until June 2007. I have a daughter, and it was very difficult being away from her. Every day I missed her, and each time I spoke to her on the phone, she would’ve changed. She was only two when I went away and her voice would’ve changed and she’d be saying more words and speaking more. It was just a constant ache.
My injury happened when I was in a Guard Room and a mortar came through the roof. It detonated directly underneath me and the building collapsed and badly damaged my leg. I remember being buried for a long time and really screaming for help. That’s the last thing I remember before waking up in hospital in Birmingham.
When I woke up, I wasn’t initially aware of what my injuries were. I wasn’t really with it for a couple of weeks. Then I understood that my leg was badly damaged but at that point, I thought that I was going to keep it. I also had facial injuries and I’ve had plastic surgery on those since. I had other shrapnel wounds to deal with and I lost a bit of sight in my left eye.
It was three years before I made the decision to have my leg amputated—three long years in a wheelchair and on crutches. I never wore two shoes in those three years and I was never pain-free. So when they suggested it to me last year, I knew it was the right decision for me, and it was. I knew that I would be a more effective mum, that I’d be able to give more to my child without a leg than with a leg. So that was what was important. I knew that life would improve for my whole family if I had my leg amputated and that was what made the decision easier. I think my daughter thinks that Mummy’s robot leg is quite novel and she likes to show all of her friends. So I don’t think she sees it as a bad thing at all. I hope she’s proud of me.
I’m now going through rehabilitation as an amputee, and I’m finding it hard! I had got very unfit over the last three years and very overweight. So I had a lot of factors going against me, in a way. But it comes down to how much determination you’ve got, and I’ve got a lot. I was determined to get there one way or another, and I’m up walking now and hopefully getting running again soon. Things are great.
I’ve no plans to leave the Army at the moment, but I wouldn’t want my daughter to join. I’ve seen war and it’s not pretty. We’re all very naïve as children, and I wouldn’t want my daughter to experience the things that I’ve experienced. I’m a very strong person and very determined and what I’ve been through has made me set my sights higher for myself and for my family in life. I’ve realised that anything you want to do, you can do it.