'I woke up two weeks later to find my leg was gone'
Sharon Odell was in a coma for more than a fortnight
A teaching assistant has shared her terrifying ordeal of waking up from a coma to discover her leg had been amputated following a horrific head-on car crash. Sharon Odell, 55, was left with life-altering injuries when her Volkswagen Up! was hit by Milosz Malkowski, 34, who was trying to overtake a car and a bus.
The single mum was driving on the A170 near Thornton-le-Dale, North Yorkshire, on April 17, 2024, when the dreadful incident occurred. After the collision, Sharon was airlifted to hospital where she remained in a coma for two-and-a-half weeks.
Upon regaining consciousness, she was shocked to find out that doctors had no choice but to amputate her right leg above the knee. She also underwent several other surgeries, including operations on her left leg and foot.
In a court hearing at York Crown Court in July, Malkowski received an 18-month prison sentence and a two-year driving ban after admitting to causing serious injury by careless driving.
Sharon, from Pickering, North Yorkshire, said: "The past year has been nothing short of traumatic. Waking from my coma to find doctors had been left with no choice other than to amputate my leg was devastating.
"I really didn't know how I was going to adapt to that, but I knew it wasn't something that I wanted to stop me from getting my life back on track. I've spent a lot of time in hospital and, while I appreciate the incredible care and support I've received, at times I still struggle to comprehend everything."
Sharon spent three months in hospital following the accident, with her injuries preventing her from enjoying activities she used to love with the school children, such as dodgeball. She also revealed that she can no longer enjoy long country walks with her beloved dog, Jasper.
She expressed gratitude for the support she received from her family and friends, including her husband, Frank, and son, Joseph. Despite her ordeal, Sharon has managed to get her life 'back on track' by returning to her job as a teaching assistant.
Sharon said: "Getting back to the school I work in has been a milestone achievement for me as it means I've regained a lot of my independence and shows how far I've come."
Lawyers at Irwin Mitchell successfully secured funding from Malkowski's insurers for Sharon to be admitted to STEPS Rehabilitation. This has given Sharon access to the lifelong support she needs, including a prosthetic leg designed specifically for her.
Peter Lorence, the specialist serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Sharon, said: "The past 17 months have been incredibly difficult for Sharon and her family as they come to terms with the life-changing severity of her injuries. While nothing can make up for what happened, through early access to rehab, Sharon has made remarkable progress in her recovery.
"In the meantime we hope that Sharon's case acts as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences innocent people can left facing due to the actions of other road users."
Sharon recently completed a 5km parkrun with a group of patients from STEPS Rehabilitation, where she managed to walk part of the distance and used a wheelchair for the remainder. She expressed her hope that by sharing her story, drivers would be more cautious on the road.
She said: "By sharing my story, I want others to see that there is life after a life-changing injury – I'm proof of that – and there's support out there to help get you through it. I also hope that it will make others think twice and take care on the roads. What happened to me was down to another driver and I wouldn't want anyone else suffering the same."