Alex Lewis
Benefitting Project Limitless Campaign
He was given a 3% chance of survival. His partner was told to come in and say goodbye. But Alex Lewis wasn’t ready to go down without a flight. In this harrowing episode, Alex shares why he says “quadruple amputation is the best thing that has ever happened to him,“ plus the one piece of advice you must not forget no matter how bad you feel things are in your life.
In this episode, You’ll learn:
How to recognize signs of escapism and depression
Identifying Strep A in the body
Navigating his decision between life and death
The importance of focusing on what you’re fighting for
The power of having a support system
Learning to appreciate the present while looking forward to the future
How your “why” can provide clarity to your meaning and purpose
Wise Words
A: He sort of looked me over, I think, and almost immediately said, “Scrap that. This guy has Strep A. I’ve seen it once before in Cape Town. We need to treat this man right now for Strep.” Now, in the UK, strep just means sore throat. We had no idea what Strep A was. The next thing I know, I’m placed on life support, and that’s where I stayed for nearly four days. At one point, I had a 3% chance of survival.
A: They couldn’t really give us answers. It was just a case of if we don’t amputate, he will die. There is no course of action. Drugs will not stop it now. The only way to stop that strep is to amputate.
A: I think Lucy and I were just very naïve in thinking that I was going to go into surgery and come out looking like Brad Pitt.
A: I think all in all, I guess in the last eight years since I fell ill, I think I’ve had 130 hours of surgery. I’ve probably spent two years of that eight years in hospital.
A: I didn’t really know it for sure, and it was way down the line when it became apparent as to why I was fighting. I just wanted to be with them. I think that was the reason I got through. That’s the reason I’m here now. It was those guys, it was Lucy and Sam.
K: Your love for Lucy and Sam.
A: Yes. Without a doubt.
A: One time when I was in ICU, they wheeled me downstairs and out into the car park so I could see the sun, albeit was really cold. But I could hear the birds singing. I had never really, I didn’t know that I was going to miss that, but I did.
A: It took falling ill to remind me of why I fight to regain independence, to do everything that I do.
A: I think if you had said to me prior to falling ill, “Do you reckon you’d ever be able to get through quadruple amputations, 130 hours of surgery, nearly losing your life and dealing with it, and then beginning to enjoy it, and then building on it to where we are now,” I just would have looked at you in a way as if to say, “Don’t be ridiculous. I’d just want to end it. Why would I want to live like that?” But I’ve actually found that I just love the fight. I love that it’s difficult. I enjoy that it pushes me and it tests me. It just brings out a much more focused and better me. It’s been the most, it’s been a blessing.
A: I want to give people hope that somebody like me can do something as crazy as row across an ocean or whatever it may be down the line.
A: I was on the cusp of death. I think I was more fearful, in reality, of losing my family than I was of dying.
A: There are avenues out of however bad you feel your life is at that time. There are routes. You build these teams around you. You’re only as strong as the people that you have in your life.
LINKS
Website: www.alex-lewis.co.uk
Instagram: @alexlewistrust
LinkedIn: Alex Lewis
Facebook: Alex Lewis (Alex Lewis Trust)
Twitter: @AlexLewis_Trust
Charity Donation: Project Limitless Campaign