Author: blackginger

Ella

Seven-year old Ella from Chichester is one feisty young lady. She has defied the odds since the day she was born at 24 weeks weighing just 650g so when lockdown stopped her weekly rehabilitation sessions, you just knew that she and her parents, Rachel and Emma, would find a way through.

Alfie

Alfie was just a month old when a rare childhood tumour caused spinal cord compression and left him paralysed from the waist down.After almost two years, and supported with ankle splints, he began to stand using a frame. Specialist care at Stoke Mandeville Hospital continues to help Alfie in his rehabilitation twice a year, but now his mum has discovered specialist spinal cord injury rehabilitation centre Neurokinex nearer to home, and it is here that Alfie is really finding his feet – in more ways than one.

Jasper

Jasper, 4, was fit and well before contracting Hand, Foot & Mouth disease at a party in November 2015. A rare complication saw this go to his heart and he was admitted to the Royal Brompton Hospital with dilated cardiomyopathy – an enlarged heart. He was put on life support but when the doctors brought him round, Jasper couldn’t move his legs: a blood clot had damaged his lower spinal cord and he was paralysed from the waist down.

Theo

Young Theo, 6, has four-limb dystonic cerebral palsy. His condition means he cannot walk unaided and is not always in control of his movements. Despite the challenges of his condition, Theo is fiercely independent boy and will stop at nothing to gain a little control and independence. Since joining Neurokinex Kids Theo’s progress has taken several steps forward – literally

Imogen

The Christmas, young Imogen was 3, she was carried into her home by her father, allowed just a couple of days out of hospital. Paralysed by the rare disease Transverse Myelitis, an inflammation of the spinal cord, Imogen was very poorly. Just one year on, Imogen was back on her feet with support and making great progress.

Marina

For many people coming up to a landmark birthday, their bucket list might include climbing a mountain, taking on a marathon or perhaps going on the holiday of a lifetime. However, for 50-year-old Marina, from Bexley in Kent, all she set out to achieve by her 50th birthday was to be able to walk 50 paces and to prove to herself – and others – that she had defied the doctors by learning to walk again following a fall down her stairs at home which had left her wheelchair bound.

David

David has survived not one, not two but three life-saving operations to remove a recurring spinal cord tumour in his neck. Undeterred by the physical and psychological challenges he has faced, David is now working with Neurokinex to restore mobility, strength and feeling after his most recent surgery in May 2016 left him paralysed down his left side.

Sarah

In 2004 Sarah, 40, was driving along to meet her boyfriend for lunch, when she suffered a life changing road traffic accident which left her with incomplete tetraplegia, meaning she lost the use of her arms and legs.

Daniel

Daniel, 30, from Tredegar, has regained 100% independence two years after suffering a life-changing spinal cord injury. He shattered his C5 vertebra in his back after diving into the sea at Weston-Super-Mare on August 13, 2016 while on a day trip to the seaside town with his teammates from Trefil rugby club. Despite appearances, the water was only knee deep: upon hitting the seabed, Daniel shattered his vertebra and was immediately paralysed. Lying face down in the water, he held his breath until his cousin lifted him to safety.

Dan

Dan, from Medway in Kent, was on a night out with his friends on June 5^t, 2016. However, this was no normal night out and Dan woke up at 5.30am lying in a ditch, having obtained a serious injury and unable to move.