The story of a mother’s journey from pain and disability to a full and active life, all thanks to a meeting with a Bath researcher, will be recounted in a lecture on Monday 1 June at the Bath Royal Literary Scientific Institution.
The lecture is about one person, a life changed and the tale of two new hips by Victoria Wells (the patient) with contributions from Professor Tony Miles, Director of the Centre for Orthopaedic Biomechanics, University of Bath (the researcher) and Emeritus Professor, Ian Learmonth, University of Bristol (the surgeon) .
Victoria, a mother from Bath aged 39, spent all of her childhood and a significant portion of her adult life enduring pain and disability due to congenital hip dysplasia.
Through the chance event of attending a public lecture in Bath on Hip Replacement Research by Professor Miles she was subsequently put in contact with orthopaedic surgeon Professor Learmonth, who specialises in complex hip surgery.
This led to two hip joint replacement operations that have transformed her life; Victoria has “grown” two inches taller, is free from pain and can now for the first time contemplate leading a full and active life and taking up a career.
Victoria will be talking about her journey from chronic pain through to her happy current situation. She will also be encouraging others of all ages with hip disability and pain to fully explore the opportunities now available to enhance their lives.
Victoria is the driving force behind a campaign to raise money to support Joint Replacement Research at the Centre for Orthopaedic Biomechanics at the University of Bath.
The lecture is to be held at 7.30pm, 1 June 2009 at the Bath Royal Literary Scientific Institution, 16-18 Queen Square, Bath, BA1 2HN.
Tickets are £6.00 (£5 concessions) and include a glass of wine. They can be purchased from Bath Festivals Box Office, Abbey Green, Tel 01225 463362, or online: www.bathfestivals.org.uk; and also at the door on the night.
For more information about the lecture or the campaign please contact Ron Reynolds, Senior Development Manager, University of Bath, 01225 386 177, email r.reynolds@bath.ac.uk