Helping make life complete again

A Navan man who suffered horrific injuries in a motorcycle crash six years ago throwing his life into chaos, has recently turned his life around and is living a full and active life despite spending a full year in a wheelchair.

Anthony Jameson almost his leg, couldn’t walk for a year, endured nine surgeries, suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and gained a lot of weight following his accident. He has had to fight a long road back after his accident, which was a shattering and life altering experience.
He almost lost his leg, still has problems with his knee and lost his confidence, but in the last few months with the help of Colm and Eamonn Brady of CBF body fitness, he has completely turned his life around.
Anthony and his wife, Bernie, live in Johnstown, Navan. They met when they were both attending the TT Races in the Isle or Man. They always loved motorcycles and travelled to Italy once a year to watch motorcycle racing there.
Six years ago the lives of this happy couple were thrown into turmoil, shattered by the accident, which occurred when Anthony was on his way home from work, where he managed a gym for Dublin City Council in Dublin.
His motorcycle was involved in a collision with a jeep when Anthony was just five miles from home.
“I was awake through it all and was taken by ambulance to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.
“I was lucky that there were four off-duty firemen and a nurse in the traffic and they came to help before the ambulance arrived.
Bernie recalls the shock of receiving a phone call from Anthony’s phone and answering it to hear a woman speaking her and telling her about the accident.
Anthony had a lot of injuries but the most serious was a compound fracture of the thigh. “There wasn’t an awful lot of thigh left, it was so badly shattered,” he said.
He had surgery on the day he was admitted to hospital to try to save his leg as there was a distinct possibility it might have to be amputated and two days later he had more surgery.
Two weeks after the accident, he was discharged from hospital in a wheelchair.
Anthony says he was deeply traumatised by the experience.
“I was in shock for a long time though and it didn’t sink in at first,” he says.
His treatment continued in the Blackrock Clinic, where he had bone grafts to try to reconstruct his thigh. He has had a number of subsequent surgeries on his knee.
“They are maintenance surgeries to try and keep the knee working,” he explains.
“I was in a wheelchair for 12 months, and off work for two years in total, which I’m sure you can imagine was a life altering experience. Although amputation was on the cards, nine surgeries later my leg is still very much attached. I have restrictions in relation to what I can do, as I only have a maximum 90 degree bend in the leg and some shortening,” he explains.
“I have no cruciate ligament nor cartilage in the knee, and my deformed femur (what is left of it) is held together with screws and bars.
“Before the accident I was a very active person, participating in swimming/triathlons and weight training. I worked full time as a gym manager and instructor.”
In addition to his physical injuries, Anthony was also diagnosed with PTSD and while he sought help for this and had a really great support network and family around him, it was very hard to get used to and accept some of the physical restrictions he now had.
“I’ve had ups and downs, and will continue to have maintenance surgeries for the foreseeable future.
“Along with all of this, I started to gain weight – eating was easier than trying to find activities that I could fully participate in. This was a vicious circle though, as I was depressed at putting on weight, yet kept eating, depressed because of my injuries, my scars, the ongoing pain and I had zero motivation.”
“I was unfit and overweight when I went back to work after two years. I felt very uncomfortable managing a gym, but the staff were kind and tried to help, but I was unsure what to do and had little motivation.”
The big change in Anthony’s life came earlier his year when Bernie joined Complete Body Fitness.
Her friend Nadine had been talking about CBF for a couple of months so Bernie went along with her and both of them had great results.
“The positivity was oozing out of them when talking about what they were getting out of the classes, the new friends, and the support and knowledge from Colm and Eamonn.
“Bernie convinced me to join CBF. I wasn’t sure, as I was not confident in my ability, and I was also very conscious about my leg. From the minute I arrived at CBF, Colm and Eamonn made me feel welcome and at ease.

“I was able to openly talk to them about my injuries and PTSD. They altered exercises just for me, so I could participate in all the activities. As the weeks went on and I attended more classes, I found that my headspace was becoming clearer, it was easier to manage my day to day routine without stress.
“I also started to lose body fat, which in itself was a bonus and added to my new found confidence and well-being so much so I signed up for Quest Adventure Series and I am happy to say I completed it , something I never thought would be possible again.”
The Quest Adventure Race involves a 750 metre kayak, 5km run and 12.25km cycle on a course at Achill Island.
“I also found myself making new friends who, as part of the CBF family, have offered me nothing but encouragement, helpful advice and praise.
“For me, CBF is not about extreme weight-loss and restricted diets. For me it is about learning about yourself, nutrition, positivity towards food, having extreme fun, and as a bonus becoming healthier, fitter and trim. CBF is for everyone, male, female, any shape or size.
I owe an awful lot to CBF – I would like to thank Colm and Eamonn for all they have done for me,” he said.
Former Meath and Simonstown footballer Colm Brady, who runs CBF with his brother, Eamonn, says that Anthony is inspirational.
“He has inspired so many people. The spirit this man has shown in taking adversity head on and dealing with it has been amazing. He hasnt allowed it hold him back,” he says.