I began writing weekly emails to a handful of people in mid - November 2020 as I had to be put on medical leave from sixth form to start a long process of rehabilitation therapy. The moral behind it was to document how I was feeling on a weekly basis and to use it as a way for me to see my situation in a bit more of a positive light (whilst giving me something to do to keep myself sane when I wasn’t  doing physio)

The reason behind having to do rehabilitation therapy takes me back a few years; where I fell over a pavement slab aged 11 at my secondary school. And, unknown to any medical professional, I developed a rare nerve disorder as a result of my fall called CRPS (Complex Regional Pain syndrome).*

These four letters have dictated my life for the past few years taking me from a ‘normal’, healthy and plunging me into a pit of confusion, pain and sadness.

Despite now relying on a wheelchair full time, having full body CRPS, and a few other medical issues; I have found some good in this weird thing called life.

I found a love for sport and fitness which has led me to study to become a personal trainer, and I’ve also spoken at a CRPS conference for a small charity which has helped me to grow my passion for public speaking and advocating for others. Living with and experiencing CRPS and everything that comes with it, it has helped me to specify the career path I’d like to take in the future too.

But then… COVID hit. And whilst trying to pick myself up, I realised that I could help you to do the same :)

So fill in your details and check your inboxes at 10am GMT every Wednesday :)

Maddie xxx

*Check the ‘What is CRPS?’ tab to learn more about it :)