By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
AFTER a horrific dirt bike crash at Easter last year, Amber Thomas thought she might never walk again.
But after 18 months of rehabilitation, Amber’s broken leg will hopefully be little more than a bad memory when she participates in the annual City2Sea event next month, walking from the Arts Centre in the Melbourne CBD to Albert Park.
Prior to her accident, the Narre Warren mother of two said she had been planning to compete in a marathon before those dreams came crashing down alongside her dirt bike.
“I shattered my tibia and ripped my ACL clear off the bone,” she said.
“I had three operations and a metal plate and pins inserted into my leg.
“I had to learn to walk on my leg again through lots of physiotherapy and lots of hydrotherapy.”
While still receiving regular treatment for her injuries, Amber has rediscovered how to use her leg and takes her children on regular walks in the pram.
Two-year-old daughter Charley and four-month-old son Kai will be joining Amber and their grandmother, Dianne, in walking the 5km City2Sea, with Kai claiming the award for the event’s youngest competitor.
“Me and Mum are going to walk and we’ll push the kids in the pram,” Amber said.
“They’re a bit too young to understand it but I think Charley will find it exciting.”
Amber’s recovery from a broken leg is only one chapter of the resilient mum’s life. For 13 years she has lived with depression, battling pre-natal depression while pregnant with Kai.
It’s no surprise that Amber will be donating the money she raises from City2Sea to Beyond Blue, an organisation close to her heart.
“Some people with depression, especially those who have just been diagnosed, feel ashamed, like they’re not worthy,” Amber said.
“I know a lot of people who have felt that way and talking about it is what helps.”
When she sets off on the City2Sea walk on Sunday 17 November, Amber will be doing all she can to raise awareness of depression and encourage people to do just that – talk.
“Mum’s proud of me,” Amber said.
“I’m sure she’s proud of how far I’ve come and how I carry myself now,” Amber said.
For more information on the City2Sea or to get involved with the event, visit www.thecity2sea.com.au
