At the age of 77, Hugh Hamilton is a force of nature with the drive and resilience of a 20-year-old. A member of the 1974 Canadian soccer championship team, Hamilton has always been a fierce competitor with a glass-half-full attitude in the face of extreme adversity. Losing his spleen from a soccer injury at the age of 26 didn’t get in the way of his love for sports. Staying fit and active continued to be a priority, with his love of golf at the top of the list.
Over the next three decades, Hamilton continued living his best life with family and friends, work, travel, and as much time on the golf course as Canadian seasons allowed. Then, in August 2015, he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, an uncommon type of blood cancer, requiring a bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy. As his body was in a vulnerable stage rebuilding immunity from the transplant coupled with having no spleen, Hamilton suffered sepsis and by October 2016, he was fighting for his life in the ICU, given less than a 30 per cent chance of survival. His family was called to gather and say their goodbyes, but Hamilton beat those odds and survived the infection.
However, the battle wasn’t over. As Hamilton’s body fought to survive, blood flow prioritized vital organs, leaving his extremities with reduced flow. Without sufficient blood getting to his feet and legs, it meant the doctors would have to amputate. In December 2016, they first took his feet, then his lower legs, and finally both legs above the knee, leaving Hamilton to face a terrifying new reality, a life without legs.
When I see the world I live in I see many people who are a lot worse off than me.
At his age, with no legs, doctors advised him to move into assisted living where he could live out his remaining days. But in true Hamilton style, he rejected the notion and vowed he would be on the first tee by June 2017. “On January 1, 2017 I asked the doctor if I could be on the tee box by June 1. He said I think you can do it. Also, I was determined not to go into a home as some doctors hinted at,” he said. Motivated to be back on the course in six months, Hamilton set his sights on learning how to navigate the world with his new physical limitations as well as the hurdles surrounding accessibility faced daily by people with disabilities.
Wasting no time, Hamilton began a rigorous strength-training regime and learned how to swim, something that not only required that he overcome his fear of drowning but also demanded intense physical and mental resolve. Optimism and openness to trial and error when approaching modifications in his fitness program were critical to the process. Not knowing exactly how his body would work without the lever system of his legs required ingenuity and a lot of faith. Hamilton faced his challenges with relentless effort, eagerness, a positive attitude, and an infectious sense of humour. Sweat and laughter replaced the grief and tears as Hamilton fought to get back all the things he loved to do most. He didn’t do it alone. He appreciated the support of his wife, Donna, family and friends.
“I had one good friend who would sit with me for hours. A couple friends who started a GoFund for me which allowed me to buy my golf cart. Plus, once I became independent again the company I work for allowed me to go back to work. So you feel whole again.”
As promised, in June 2017, with the help of an accessible golf cart and his commitment to training, Hamilton was taking his first swing at the first tee. It was then he knew that the hard work, adaptation, and emotional ups and downs were well worth it. He has not looked back since. “I have learned to be patient which I wasn’t before. I have learned to ask for assistance as there are a number of things I cannot do. Also, when I see the world I live in I see many people who are a lot worse off than me.”
Today, Hugh Hamilton does everything he used to do, just a little differently. He drives a modified van, hand cycles, and has learned to walk with prosthetics. Maintaining a regular fitness program for mobility and strength critically supports his active lifestyle and travel. Since the amputation, he and Donna have travelled to Thailand, Singapore, New Zealand, USA, England, Germany, and Mexico. Whether it’s his daily routine or world travel, Hamilton faces it head-on with the love and support of Donna, whose strength and character exemplify commitment. One spleen and two legs short, the Hamiltons show no signs of slowing down. “You must never give up, stay positive and do not admit defeat.”
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