19 August 2020
Dear patients,
AN UPDATE FROM DR SELINA LEOW
It has now been a few months since I last wrote to everyone about what happened to me and I thought I would write to you to let you know my progress.
The healing of my stump has been great! I am not taking any pain medication and I have been fortunate, so far (fingers crossed!), to not have experienced any “phantom limb” pain either.
My energy levels are better but I still tire more easily than I use to. From what I have read and seen with other amputees, this is not uncommon due to the extra effort it takes to do things. Everything takes a little longer to do or complete than it used to and I often end up in a sweat!
I finally had my driver’s licence restored on 2 July 2020. It is such a relief to be able to drive myself again. I had to have a 3hr driving assessment - 1.5hr interview with an occupational therapist(OT) for eyesight, cognitive, reading, interpreting visual road rules, etc and then 1.5hrs with a driving instructor in a modified vehicle with the OT in the back seat continuing the assessment; 4hrs of driving lessons in a modified vehicle with a driving instructor and then, the RMS driving test (just like when I went for my P plate test when I was 17 years old!). My car has now been modified and I drive with an electronic spinner knob on the steering wheel. The spinner knob has buttons on it for the left and right turning indicators, horn, high beam and 3 speeds of front windscreen wipers.
I have now been fitted with a basic prosthetic arm with a hook/claw. It is useful for some things but can be a nuisance in other situations. I still look forward to being fitted for a myoelectric arm in a few months but the current arm is more sturdy and water-resistant than the Myo-electric one so there will be advantages to having both. I do not drive with my prosthetic arm.
I have returned to my Forensic Odontology work and am very grateful for the warmth and support that they have given me there upon my return.
This past week, I have been on front desk duties at our practice due to a severe staff shortage. I was certainly no Louise (who had to work chair side with the dentists instead) but it was so fantastic to see and catch up with so many of my patients. It gives me so much happiness to see everyone and I am still working on which regular days I will be coming into the surgery. I hope to see and catch up with all of you! Many of my patients have already returned to the practice and been seen by our lovely dentists. We are fortunate to have a great group of excellent dentists - both as clinicians as well as warm and friendly. Our invaluable dental chair-side assistants and Louise are a God-send also! I know that everyone is in the best hands!
Recent weeks have revealed COVID-19 rearing its head again in Victoria and hotspots have sprung up in many States of Australia including NSW. Alarmingly, there have been quite a few cases all around us in the North-West of Sydney (Rouse Hill, Schofields, Castle Hill, Quakers Hill, Baulkham Hills, Blacktown).
Please be assured that Stanhope Dental Centre has continued to maintain its strict infection control measures that we have always had in the surgery (even before the pandemic!). With our additional measures in the reception and waiting room as well as special instructions for patients with dental appointments, Stanhope Dental Centre is as safe as we can make it during these pandemic times.
Our thoughts and solidarity go out to the people of Victoria currently in lockdown, families coping with COVID-19 or the loss of loved ones and the frontline health professionals trying to cope with alarming case numbers.
More importantly, as a born and bred New South Welsh woman, I pray that the people in our State - young and not-so-young, listen and practise the recommendations that will keep us and our families healthy and avoid what we are seeing in Victoria.
Stay safe everyone and I hope to see/catch up with you soon,
Love
Your dentist
Click here for April 2021 update.
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1 June 2020
Dear Patients,
SOME NEWS FROM DR SELINA LEOW
Firstly, I hope that you and your family are well and have been managing through this COVID-19 restriction period. Our practice had to close on 27 March 2020 due to government restrictions but reopened (mornings only) on 11 May 2020 when restrictions were eased. Our strict infection control procedures during treatment and between patients remains at its very high standard, as it has always been.
Some of you have already resumed appointments with us and we look forward to welcoming everyone back very soon as we work towards resuming our normal business hours.
On 1 April 2020, days after the practice shutdown, I received a diagnosis of Cancer in my right wrist (my dominant hand). An Epithelioid Sarcoma is a very rare and aggressive cancer which is not responsive to chemotherapy and has poor success with radiotherapy. At this stage, there was no evidence of spread any where else in the body. The only treatment was to amputate my right forearm, wrist and hand. So, 15 days later on 16 April 2020, the amputation was done.
The thing that saddens me most is that the loss of my wrist and hand means that my career and passion for treating patients, as a dentist, is over. My patients are like my other family whom I have shared stories, watched children grow up and start their own families, laughed (uproariously in many cases) and formed a bond that has been special. But the reality is that I am alive and that this amputation will hopefully allow me to get to 100 years old (if my other organs permit it!). As my recovery becomes more full and I am allowed to drive myself again, I hope to be back in the surgery to continue the administrative and office work that I have always done. So, I hope that I will be able to catch up with you all in that way. We can still chat, share stories and laugh - I just won’t be doing your dental treatment. Ask me any questions you want - about my arm, about dentistry, about life! You know that I am always keen to chat!
I am very pleased to let you know that we have appointed a new female dentist, Dr Leazelle Graham, to help with continuation of treatment of our patients. Dr Leazelle is a lovely, friendly person and will be a great addition to our practice. Along with our other dentists, Dr Darren Calleia and Dr Leazelle Graham, will ensure that all of our patients will receive the highest standard of dental care and treatment that has always been provided at Stanhope Dental Centre.
The healing of my arm has been amazing with the stump scar healing quickly and the need for only Panadol and Nurofen from Day 3 after the surgery to almost no pain relief now, 6 weeks post-amputation...surprising even for me! My recovery has been slow. I tire easily. It will be at least a couple of months before I am legally allowed to drive again. I try to remain positive though and am learning to do things with my non-dominant hand - showering, dressing, writing (this needs more practice though). I hope to be fitted with a basic prosthetic arm with a hook/claw in the coming weeks (pirate-themed parties will be easy!) and a more intricate prosthetic with a myoelectric hand down the track. Unfortunately, no prosthetic will ever produce the fine motor functions of a real hand.
My position as a Forensic Odontologist will continue. I am thankful for the purpose and sanity that it will bring. I will continue to lecture and run workshops here and overseas - remotely for the time being.
The isolation period due to COVID-19 has been fortunate in some respects. It has meant that I have been able to recover at home without guilt about letting the practice down. All my family has been at home as well to help and support me which has been fantastic and I have been so thankful.
Many of you had heard of my predicament already in the last few weeks and have sent flowers, cards and well wishes. All have brought a tear to my eye and a lump in my throat and remind me of how truly fortunate I am to have so many special people in my life. Thank you to everyone!
Please feel free to contact the surgery if you need to talk with us but be re-assured that everything at the surgery will continue to run exactly as it always has - with our warm family approach.
I hope to see you in the practice in the coming months as my recovery improves!
Love
Your dentist
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01-04-21
Another update from Dr Selina Leow
Dear patients,
I thought that it was time to let you know how I have been going. On 16 April 2021, it will be 12 months since my right hand, wrist and forearm was amputated.
I am happy to let you know that all has been going well. There continues to be no pain from the arm - I have been very fortunate in that regard. I have had a few follow up scans since the amputation and all have been clear. I will continue having these scans every 6 months for the next 5 years, like other cancer survivors.
I have recently had my licence amended to allow me to drive with a plain spinner knob instead of an electronic spinner knob (this was what I was originally permitted to drive with). This amendment means that I can carry a plain spinner knob with me and I can drive any automatic vehicle - useful if I have to hire a car if away on business, etc. My own car has already been modified for the electronic spinner knob and I will keep that as is.
As many of you are aware, my family and I are 4WD enthusiasts and since Christmas, I have ventured out on a few trips including camping. I must admit I hesitated on going camping for some time as I wasn’t sure how I would “do” things-it was mostly getting around it in my head because Darren has always taken care of everything on camping trips including cooking!
I have been using my prosthetic hook arm for some things but not always. Predominantly, I use it at Forensics and at the practice. I also use it if I anticipate eating meat or chicken at a meal as I can put a knife in the hook and use it to cut. I will also wear it if I think I’ll need to buy fruit and veg from the supermarket - those plastic bags are quite difficult to open with one hand! I am hoping that I will be approved for a myo electric arm which will allow me to hold round things like glasses, cans, etc but also, I won’t need the harness on my left shoulder like with my current prosthesis. However, the process and paperwork to be approved for the myo electric arm is SLOW!
I have been able to help out at the practice on the front desk when we have been short staffed. This has been great as I have been able to catch up with so many of my patients. It has been so amazing to see you and speak to you! I love it!
My Forensic work has continued unchanged. I am still one of the NSW Forensic Odontology team that regularly attends the NSW Mortuary to undertake identifications. Recently, I was appointed National Forensic Odontology Co-ordinator for a missing persons program run by the Australian Federal Police. I also give periodic lectures at Western Sydney University, University of Turin, Italy and the NSW Forensic Odontology short course (that I help to run also). I am a keynote speaker at an upcoming International e-conference on Forensic Odontology and will also, be presenting research in Sydney in my current role as NSW Forensic Odontology Registrar.
Unfortunately, the Forensic Odontology work is not an income source - more of a service provided to assist the Australian Police, Australian Justice and the Community. It does, however, allow me to stay active and utilise my skills, knowledge and expertise to make a valuable difference for others.
So, between my Forensic activities and continuing to manage the practice, I’m keeping out of mischief! I continue to get easily tired through the day and require little “rest” breaks which get frustrating (especially for me!) but I really don’t have a choice as I get so tired, I couldn’t function without a break. I don’t need to “take a nap” always - sometimes it’s just a sit down at a meal or some quieter time. I can hear many of you saying “Well, you needed to slow down!”
I am so glad that my patients have continued at the practice seeing Dr Darren Calleia and the rest of the team, but remember, I haven’t left the practice - I just can’t provide your dental treatment. Hopefully, I will catch up with you when I am next there.
Until next time,
Love
Your Dentist
June 2022 UPDATE available here.
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June 2022
2yr update from Dr Selina Leow
Dear patients,
Amazing how time keeps plodding on by. I have now passed the 2 year mark since I lost my right hand, wrist and forearm.
I have been having regular scans every 3 months and recently, this has now moved to every 6 months. This is similar to most Cancer survivors.
In 2021, I had the opportunity to try out the plain spinner knob on a car I hired when in Adelaide for business and again, on a minibus I hired to take my family on a wine weekend in Mudgee ( I don’t drink alcohol! Crazy enough! ) I am happy to say that all went smoothly!
Last May, I was elected as Deputy Chairperson for the Forensic Odontology Sub-working group of the INTERPOL DVI Committee to add to my other roles that help to keep me out of mischief! I continue with my other Forensic roles and work.
Unfortunately, I haven’t been to the practice as often as I had hoped as I can manage the Admin of the practice remotely well enough. I still pop down periodically though and it is always great to see and chat to my patients. I love seeing everyone!!
Last Christmas, I went on a 2 week 4WD trip through the West Coast of Tasmania. There was much craziness getting a PCR test on Christmas morning and then, getting the result before we left Melbourne (this was when all the PCR test wait times went through the roof!). There was much that occurred on this trip but I am happy to say that the one armed woman went fine with the help from Darren & our eldest daughter who came on the trip with us.
Most recently, I have started initial trials with a myo-electric hand. The prosthesis looks like a hand (4 fingers and thumb) that can move through a variety of grips (between 8 and 24 grip patterns depending on the type of hand!) using sensors touching 2 large muscles on either side of the stump. It still won’t return me to treating patients but it does allow me to hold a cup or bottle, open a packet of chips (and other packets but chips are important, right!), reach up or bend down to grab things. All these things were unachievable with the hook prosthesis. I will trial one type of hand for 4 to 6 weeks, then trial a second type of hand for another 4 to 6 weeks before I find out if I can be approved to receive one of my very own! There have certainly been some challenges in these first couple of weeks with my first hand but, I think, well worth the perseverance.
As the world opens up, I have attended a few interstate and local forensic work situations. It was great to feel like I was still able to do my work as I had hoped!
INTERPOL will meet in June 2022 for the 1st time since the pandemic hit the world. INTERPOL HQ is in Lyon, France. I will take the opportunity to lecture at the University of Turin, Italy and engage with business partners to Australia in Denmark as well. As much as it sounds like a great holiday, I take business trips very seriously and so, not much sightseeing for me! More importantly, it will be the 1st overseas trip post amputation. I have been allowed to take along the current hand that I am trialing as well. I will let you know how it all goes!
See you all very soon!
Love
Your Dentist
Click here for July 2023 Update
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July 2023
3YR UPDATE FROM DR SELINA LEOW
Dear Patients,
It’s amazing the small things you miss when you can’t use 2-hands. I’m not talking the obvious stuff – putting your hair up, not being able to cut up your own food, etc. I’m talking about the things that you don’t need to do but the things you’d like to do but can’t anymore. A few months ago, my children wanted to play Mah Jong (a Chinese game similar to Gin Rummy but using porcelain tiles). We only play periodically since you need 4 players. It struck me as I was playing – I can’t build the tiled walls as effectively anymore, I can’t feel the sensation of mixing the tiles as you swirl them around the table. Insignificant but a loss that I felt.
My 6-month scans have continued to remain clear. Always a relief to hear!
You may recall in my last letter that I was trialling the first myoelectric hand. My trip last June to the INTERPOL meeting at INTERPOL headquarters with my first hand trial was mixed. France was experiencing a very hot Summer and it highlighted the sweating situation - the stump slides out of position to the sensors that control the hand (thankfully, it doesn’t slide off due to the physical structure!). This meant that I couldn’t control the hand effectively though! The following months were spent trying to find solutions – powder (like talcum), anti-perspirant on the stump, special creams. All were not great alternatives, in my opinion, as all would potentially interfere with sensors as well. Some physical adjustments were made to the forearm part of the prosthesis over the stump which did improve things. I now just carry around a small cloth so that I can dry my stump if sweating and re-insert into the prosthesis. Not ideal but do-able. The trials for my myoelectric hand finished in February. I ended up doing trials of 4 different types including the newest on the market – the only waterproof hand in the world (at least available to average folks!). Needless to say, it’s the one I chose. Reports and submissions were completed by my prosthetist, the occupational therapist, the specialist and myself. After months of waiting, I was advised a few weeks ago that the hand has been approved! The prosthetist now has to order it in and check it etc before I can start to use it but I am excited! This hand looks more “robotic”. I figured the so-called “skin” coloured hand is never really my skin colour so if it is going to look fake then, let it look fake!
I became Chairperson of the Forensic Odontology Sub-Working Group of the INTERPOL DVI Committee in May 2023, I continue with my roles with the NSW Coroner and National roles. Also, I am one of the Forensic identification experts for recent multiple fatality events.
The past 12 months have been my hardest – mental health speaking. I struggled with the lack of structure and some forensic work-related politics. Thus, I was looking for other ways to pull myself out. I now drive one of the buggies (golf carts) at Westmead Hospital to assist visitors who struggle to walk the long distances within the Hospital. It is a volunteer role but combines my love of driving and my love of talking to people. More importantly, I have to get up and leave the house for a full day shift where I have the capacity to give back to my community. In the new year, I may have the opportunity to mentor some of the final year dental students to pass on some of my knowledge and experience.
In October 2023, Darren and I will celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. We will go on holidays for a few weeks including travelling on The Ghan (on my bucket list!). I’ll return for a couple of weeks before heading off to a closed INTERPOL meeting in Brazil in November.
I still pop into the surgery periodically as I still manage the admin side of things. It has been great catching up with many of you!
I miss you all!
Love,
Your dentist
Selina
Click here for June 2025 update.
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7 June 2025
Dear Patients,
5 YEAR UPDATE FROM DR SELINA LEOW
The last two years since my last update have been interesting!
First and foremost, my scans have remained clear and, they tell me, that reaching the 5 year mark is a very positive sign. So, no more scans now for 2 more years.
Not long after my last letter to you, I received my new hand!
The new hand is quick. It has 24 grip capabilities but you only really use 4 or 5 grip patterns with any regularity. As I mentioned in my last letter, I decided not to go with a “skin-coloured” forearm so they made it from a black/silver carbon graphite. The hand itself is also a black/silver colour. It all looks very cool! The hand is still only for supportive measures but I can hold paper, a set of keys, my phone. I can hold a knife to cut things or hold a light shopping bag. It still doesn’t have great grip so I find that I mainly wear it when I am at a business function or lecturing in-person but at other times, without it is just as easy and lighter. I am glad that I have it though.
I was the Chairperson of the Forensic Odontology Sub-Working Group of the INTERPOL DVI Committee - a two year role which concluded in May 2025. I was very privileged to have been elected to such a position. I will still attend INTERPOL meetings as an Australian delegate, as I have done for many years. I continue with my roles with the NSW Coroner and National roles as well as one of the Forensic identification experts for recent multiple fatality events.
As I write this, Darren and I are preparing to cross the Nullarbor and travel through outback WA, NT & NSW before returning back to Sydney. We will be away for 4 weeks.
I still pop into the surgery periodically as I still manage the adminastrative side of things. It has been great catching up with many of you!
I miss you all!
Love
Your dentist
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