BBC East Midlands Today (EMT) visited De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) to find out about the remarkable story of Sian Green, a DMU student who is set to launch her own charity just two years after losing part of her leg in a horrific incident in New York.
QUESTION TIME: EMT'S Anne Davies speaks to Sian Green
While eating hot dogs in Manhattan with a friend during a trip to New York City in August 2013, Sian’s life was changed forever as an out of control taxi mounted the pavement and trapped her left leg. Her leg could not be saved and doctors amputated it below the knee.
Amazingly, Sian made it back to Leicester within two months to resume her studies on the Fashion Buying course, and now she is set to graduate with a 2:1 later this month.
Speaking to BBC’s Anne Davies, Sian said: “I flew back to the UK after about six weeks in hospital, and within a week of that I was back at university.
“I had an awful lot of support; the university was fantastic they just did everything for me. It wasn’t hard coming back at all.
“Obviously my second year was really stressful – I barely even remember handing work in – so I’m really pleased. I really didn’t think I’d do that well.”
On top of managing to complete her studies at DMU, Sian is in the process of setting up her own charity, the Sian Green Foundation, to help other people like herself.
The Sian Green Foundation, which Sian hopes will be ready to launch by autumn of this year, will provide care and support for amputees who require specialist prosthetic limbs, some of which can cost more than £10,000.
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It’s been a remarkable journey for her, but she says the biggest difference since her accident has been to her view on life.
She said: “It’s changed my whole outlook on life. Things like your hair being out of place on a particular day or whatever, they mean absolutely nothing compared to some of the things other people go through. I think that’s the lesson I’ve learned.”
That said, Sian is excited about a new prosthetic foot she’s waiting to receive – one which will allow her to start wearing high heels again.
She added: “It’s nearly been two years now that I haven’t worn a heel. Hopefully in a few weeks I’ll have one (the new prosthetic foot) which I really can’t wait for!”
Sian’s full interview with Anne Davies is scheduled to feature on EMT this evening (Friday, July 3) at 6.30pm.
Posted on Friday 3 July 2015