"I can live my life again thanks to the Fund's support"

Stacey Mitchell joined the RAF aged 19, ready for a long and fulfilling career in Armed Forces. However, her career was cut short in November 2016 when she sustained an injury which resulted in long-term damage, with Stacey choosing to remove her leg. Desperate to gain some independence back, Stacey reached out to the RAF Benevolent Fund.

Stacey, now 30, joined the RAF in 2013 and served as a Senior Aircraftswoman at RAF Odiham, where she worked with the Chinooks. As a fit and healthy young adult, Stacey was sporty and enjoyed playing station netball, running and regular gym sessions. However, during a run one day, Stacey sustained an overuse injury in her leg. 

Stacey said: "I had physiotherapy and during a rehabilitation course I was left in complete agony, tears were streaming down my face as I struggled to hold them back. I was later placed in an air cast boot for seven months."

The boot made Stacey's leg worse and triggered an irreversible, severe nerve condition meaning she couldn’t use her left leg at all. Stacey was left suffering with constant, debilitating nerve pain and struggled to deal with daily life.

"I lost my independence, something I just took for granted before. I couldn't enjoy life and was in so much pain – it was horrific, I merely existed," said Stacey. 

She added: "After four years of decline I had a conversation with my medical team. Either I could live with my leg as it was or have elective amputation. I couldn’t imagine another minute in such pain and decided to go forward with a through knee amputation in the hope I would gain a better quality of life and one day, walk again."

Stacey had major surgery in 2018 and stayed at rehabilitation centre Headley Court for 18 months. She then moved home to her parents’ house, but it wasn’t adapted to suit her needs and it was a struggle.

"Before the Fund stepped in, things were difficult for me. I didn’t go home until 18 months after my operation, and when I went back to my parents’ house, it wasn’t set up at all. I got in touch with the Fund to see if they could help, and they purchased a property for me and adapted it to my needs. I moved in in October 2022."

Stacey, who now permanently uses a wheelchair, added: "The support has been incredible in improving my quality of life – I didn’t realise the impact. It’s given me the independence I've been craving for so long and has allowed me to live my life again."

Stacey's journey is far from over – according to her, the whole process has been mentally taxing, and treatment will continue for the foreseeable. But having somewhere to call home, which is truly hers, where she can live independently in a space adapted to her needs, has made an enormous difference.

"I'm so grateful for the Fund's support - it has changed my life."