Amateur jockey Rosie tells us about her experience at our hospitals when she broke her ankle after a horse riding accident.
Rosie was riding out on Newmarket Heath, as she does daily, when the usually calm Bean bucked and threw her to the ground.
She initially thought she’d sprained her ankle, and rode Bean home to call 111. The team informed her that an ambulance was on its way.
“The ambulance crew were lovely gave me plenty of pain relief so I was comfortable when I arrived at Addenbrooke’s.”
Rosie was x-rayed and told she would need an operation to fix her ankle.
I was very scared ahead of the operation, but absolutely everyone that spoke to me was incredibly kind and caring.
“Waking up from the operation was scary, but again the nurses on hand were amazing, calming me down reassuring me totally until I fully came round - I’ll never forget their kindness.”
Rosie met many of our teams across the hospital in her rehabilitation, including our physiotherapy team who helped her get back on her feet (with the aid of crutches).
“The physios who came to get me going on my crutches were wonderful and so patient considering how useless I was at using them!”
Rosie was eventually sent to our discharge lounge and ready to recuperate at home.
I felt so comfortable in the discharge lounge. I could have fallen asleep if someone hadn’t been coming to get me!
Rosie stayed with her parents until she became more confident on her crutches. However, the main thing on her mind was getting back out and riding with Bean.
She is now ready and recovered enough to ride again, and continue her role as an amateur jockey.
Aware of the risks that come with riding, Rosie said: “my injury was self inflicted ... and I make the choice to risk getting hurt - but no one made me feel stupid for it, they just made me feel better."
Lastly, Rosie has a few thank yous for our staff.
“I want to thank the nurse who kindly helped me wrangle my very nice riding trousers off without having to cut them, the doctor who calmed me down when he realised quite how scared I’d become when I discovered I needed an operation and managed to stop me sobbing, and the lady who provided the food after my surgery. I told her she was my favourite person ever and she brought me a packet of biscuits with my dinner!”
We wish Rosie the very best in her recovery.
If you’d like to tell us about your experience at our hospitals, email the communications team or message us on social media: