Margaret-Rose McGill’s injuries have been blurred because they are too graphic to show (Picture: Media Scotland)
A woman suffering from chronic ulcers after a dog attack is begging doctors to amputate her leg.
Margaret-Rose McGill, from South Ayrshire in Scotland, was mauled by a former friend’s bull-terrier type pet in June 2019.
The 42-year-old spent six weeks in hospital where doctors tried to repair muscle and tissue damage to her limb.
But she now lives in constant pain, with open wounds and ulcers which opened up 12 months after the attack.
Speaking through tears, she said: ‘I’ve begged the doctors multiple times to take my leg off because I can’t keep living like this. I am terrified that I’ll end up with sepsis and die.
‘I’m in constant pain and it’s really affected my ability to walk. I’m in the doctors’ surgery up to five times a week to get it dressed but nothing seems to be working.
‘They don’t want to go down the route of amputation yet, but if they had amputated my leg two years ago and given me a prosthetic I would be back on my feet.
‘The ulcers started appearing about a year after I was bitten and have never stopped. I’ve had multiple hospital admissions and they are getting worse and worse.’
She says she wants to start living her life and her wounded leg is preventing her from doing this (Picture: Media Scotland)
Chronic ulcers form when high pressure in the veins of the legs damages the skin. It affects 1 in 500 people in the UK.
Pictures of Margaret-Rose’s wounds – which are too graphic to show – reveal her swollen, red limb covered in open, weeping sores.
‘I am not a healthy woman and I am tired of suffering,’ she said.
‘I need this dealt with before it does me any more damage. I want to live my life – not sit looking out the window watching everyone else. I’ve accepted that my leg needs to go.
‘I’ve been left traumatised after the attack. I don’t sleep very well at night because I still have flashbacks. I’m still suffering from that almost four years down the line. My whole life has changed.’
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During the attack, she managed to free herself from the dog’s jaws and dragged herself back home.
Two young men spotted her bleeding and performed first aid in the street – a move which doctors believe saved her life.
Craig McArthur, director of East Ayrshire health and social care partnership said: ‘We are very sorry to hear of Ms McGill’s issues and concerns but cannot provide further comment on her individual case.
‘We would encourage her to contact us directly so that we can investigate and provide feedback.’
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‘I’ve begged the doctors multiple times to take my leg off because I can’t keep living like this.’
