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One day Tom goes out for a ride on his bike – just
for fun. He has his most trendy biking gear on, including
a new open-face crash helmet that looks really cool. Tom is
knocked off his bike when a car pulls out of a turning. The
driver is on his mobile phone and isn't paying full attention
to where he's going. Tom is taken to Accident and Emergency
(A&E). Doctors and nurses work to help him recover, but
his hand and jaw are badly hurt. This shows up in the X-rays
taken by the Radiographer.
Doctors can't save Tom's hand; they have to amputate it just
above the wrist. Surgeons (doctors that operate on you) also
put pins and wires in Tom's jaw to help it heal up properly.
As well as the doctors, nurses and the radiographer a team
of other people help Tom on his way to recovery. While he's
in hospital he can't really speak very well. A Speech
and Language Therapist helps him work out ways of making
himself understood. A Dietitian
can help him with food while he can't chew.
After a time in hospital Tom can go back home and get on
with his life. He goes to see a Prosthetist
to have a replacement hand fitted. He also works with a Physiotherapist
to help him get used to using his artificial hand (they call
this a prosthesis). He also exercises his left hand so he
can use it for more things. (Tom was 'right handed') At home
an Occupational
Therapist works with him to organise his house so he can
carry on with his interests and hobbies.
But Tom isn't getting better as quickly as he should. It's
because he's so angry about the driver who knocked him down
– the driver was never caught. Tom won't talk to anybody
about it. Talking about it would help him get rid of his anger.
He decides that an Arts
Therapist might be able to help. The arts therapist helps
him express his anger, his worries, his feelings.
Tom feels much better after this, and soon enters into life
with energy and good humour again.
 Which
AHPs help Tom?
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