Elzbieta Mrowca ‘Ela’, 51 from Co Meath was treated for a rare bone cancer in 2022 at the NOHC. Originally from Poland, Ela has been living in Navan with her family for 18 years. She went to her GP after experiencing swelling in her calf, thinking it was a sports injury.
‘My left calf was swollen and I noticed a big difference in the size compared to my right leg’
An MRI and biopsy later confirmed Ela had a rare bone cancer called sarcoma. Ela’s treatment involved 6 months of chemotherapy and her left leg need to be amputated by NOHC consultant surgeon Alan Molloy and team.
‘It was very emotional for me to get that news, but I was lucky because the cancer hadn’t spread’
Ela received her prosthetic leg from the team in Ottobock who work closely with the NOHC and underwent intensive physiotherapy to get her body used to walking with her new prosthetic limb. Within months, the amazing Ela was walking without crutches, back driving her car and back to work at her job as a cleaner. Her positively in the face of adversity is inspiring and Ela is determined not to let anything stop her from living her life to the fullest.
‘Sometimes people ask, “Oh my God what happened to you?” and I just say, “I lost my leg but that’s it, nothing else. It hasn’t changed me. I’m still me”
Ela shared her story to generate awareness of sarcoma and to thank the teams at the NOHC who provided great care and support during her journey to recovery.
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