Cauda Equina Awareness Day

My Story with Cauda Equina Syndrome

Everyone’s journey is different, and mine has been shaped by living with Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) not once, but twice. My life changed completely when I was first diagnosed in 2017. It was one of the scariest times of my life, and I was faced with the reality of paralysis and the challenges that came with it.

After a long recovery, I managed to find my strength again, only to face CES a second time in 2020. On top of that, I live with numerous bulging discs, which bring daily struggles. But instead of giving up, I chose to approach my situation with determination, positivity, and mindfulness. I have had to learn to walk again after being told I may never do so, and that experience taught me the power of hope, patience, and resilience.

I will not pretend it has been easy. There have been moments of pain, fear, and frustration. But I have also discovered new parts of myself. The ability to adapt, to stay strong for myself and others, and to turn my story into something that might help someone else.

That is why I decided to write and create resources, including books and journals, to support emotional wellbeing. Sharing my journey is not about seeking sympathy; it is about showing others that even in the hardest circumstances, there is still room for growth, healing, and positivity.

If my story can help even one person feel less alone, more hopeful, or more empowered in their own journey, then everything I have been through has meaning. My CES journey has not just been about surviving. It has been about transforming pain into purpose, and learning that while we cannot always choose what happens to us, we can choose how we rise above it xxx