TIPS 2025 - PATIENT SPEAKERS

Bert Pot

Bert lost his left hand in 2006.  To ride the motorcycle again was important for him and he succeeded!  Bert became the first Dutch person to use the iLimb -  a life-changing experience.  He has given many lectures, tested different types of hand prostheses, provided peer support, participated in research studies and contributed to healthcare improvements as an experienced expert.

 

Bert has also participated in the Cybathlon, and received a lot of publicity.  His motto: "This is not the end, but a new start".

 

 

Allison Friday & David Richardson

Allison Friday and David Richardson are husband and wife.  Allison became a quad amputee in 2020 after contracting meningococcal septicaemia.  She was hospitalised for over 14 months - much of that during lockdown, meaning face to face contact was extremely limited througout that time.

Allison returned home in March 2021 to continue her rehabilitation with the aid of carers, occupational therapists and physiotherapists. In December 2022 David because Allison's full-time carer and they married in May 2023.  They both love to travel and have continued to do so throughout Allison's rehabilitation.

Together, they have documented Allison's rehab journey through an online blog.   They have recently invested in a motorhome and are hoping to publish another journal detailing the challenges and accessibility of travelling in an updated vehicle.  

Allison has over 30 years' experience in Clinical Research and Project Management.  David has an extensive background in Process and People Management and more recently Aviation.  Together they spend some of their free time as both research participants and disability advocates.

 

 

George Borgman

George is an Urban Forester who can reflect on a series of interesting everyday practices and experiences in the "playfield" of Urban Forest Management,  where his day job involves climate adaptation of forests.

He lost his left arm following a traffic accident and is now adapting to living with several arm prostheses and tools.  Following upper arm osseointegration in 2022, he now has more control and synchronization of his left arm.  Some technical adaptations have been made to his prosthesis so he can perform tree measurements in the forest.