Scottish charity founder, Dr. Cor Hutton MBE BCAc DL, has shared her inspiring story of survival and resilience on the latest episode of Full Disclosure with James O’Brien. The episode, titled “The Quadruple Amputee Who Found Her Feet,” is part of Global’s Make Some Noise campaign.
In the episode, Cor speaks candidly about her experience with sepsis, the amputation of both her hands and legs, her double hand transplant, and how she turned her tragedy into purpose through her charity, Finding Your Feet.
Host James O’Brien introduces the episode saying, “This is going to be a bit different… I don’t know where to start, your life has been so extraordinary.” Cor then recounts the illness that changed her life, saying, “On Friday afternoon, I got myself an appointment at the doctor, he checked me thoroughly, and the next day you’re dying with sepsis. It’s just bizarre.”
After waking from a medically induced coma, Cor was informed that she would lose her hands and feet. She tells James, “There didn’t seem to be anybody who could tell me what life would be like without hands and feet… I’d have loved to have seen someone coping. My family said, ‘There’s a gap – why don’t you bridge it?’ So, we did.”
Within a year, Cor founded Finding Your Feet, which has since grown into Scotland’s only charity supporting people and families affected by amputation or limb absence. The charity currently runs around 120 clubs and activities each month and supports over 1,500 individuals across the country.
Reflecting on how she approached her recovery and new challenges, Cor says, “I just kept saying yes.” In addition to her charity work, Cor has accomplished several remarkable milestones. She became the first female quadruple amputee to summit Mount Kilimanjaro, has trekked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, and has been recognized with an MBE and three Honorary Doctorates for her services to charity and inspirational advocacy.
Cor shares, “Helping other people stopped me thinking about me. That was like therapy.” As the conversation draws to a close, James tells her, “Your life has been so extraordinary… you’ve turned personal adversity into extraordinary advocacy.”
The Full Disclosure episode offers a rare, personal look at what it means to rebuild a life – not just physically, but emotionally – and brings attention to the ongoing need for awareness around sepsis and limb loss.
Full Disclosure with James O’Brien: Cor Hutton – The Quadruple Amputee Who Found Her Feet is available now on Global Player, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
For more information about Cor Hutton and her charity, Finding Your Feet, visit cor.scot. The charity relies on donations to continue providing crucial emotional and physical support to amputees and their families across Scotland. To support their work, visit www.findingyourfeet.net/donate-now.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.