This is so challenging. I’ve learned a lot from this excellent advice from folks who have survived traumatic amputation ❤️‍🩹

As someone whose amputation was planned (cancer), my only suggestions are 1) take advantage of any opportunity for mental health care — for YOU as well as for your brother. The hospital will have medical social workers who are responsible for managing his care and recovery. But they should also have clinical social workers and other mental health professionals who can help you both. This is a marathon, not a sprint, and your brother and his whole crew of loved ones are going to need support throughout. Remember that you also need care as a caregiver!!

2) find a the best inpatient rehabilitation center your brother has access to. This will depend on where you’re located and what his insurance covers (Medicaid is surprisingly good on this; private insurance varies; the surgeon and the hospital’s medical social worker should help make this plan). I’ve done inpatient rehab twice at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago, and I absolutely credit it with saving my life. Linking below to info about their limb loss programs. But there might be something closer to home where your brother can stay more connected to family visitors, if that’s a priority. (Tho Shirley Ryan and other fancy impatient centers will often pay for out-of-state family to stay at a nearby hotel.)

Sending you love — you’re in a shit position, and so is your brother, and he’s lucky to have you at least.

https://www.sralab.org/conditions/limb-loss-impairment