Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. 

In September I will be doing a 25 mile walk (or wheel in my case) to raise money for Sandville Self Help Foundation. 

As some of you will know, in January 2012 I developed Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) in my left foot. CRPS is a neurological condition which causes severe and debilitating pain, as well as multiple other symptoms including changes in temperature, colour and skin in the affected limb, as well as muscle dystonia and finding normal sensations painful. 

After a number of years of my CRPS being well controlled, in October 2021 I had a severe flare up which despite numerous medications and treatments, has continued to worsen, and has left me unable to leave the house without using a wheelchair. I can’t bare any weight through my foot, am unable to move it and find it to painful to wear a shoe or even sleep with my foot under the duvet. After multiple hospital trips in December requiring IV morphine, and a failed infusion at Christmas, in January of this year I had to make the difficult decision to pause my studies at medical school, mid-way through my third year. 

I went from living independently at university with my friends, to back living with my parents having to spend roughly 23 hours a day in bed with my foot elevated using multiple pillows. In the past few months I have tried numerous medications and had two nerve blocks, all to either no or very little success. Facing a long wait to see a neurosurgeon for a spinal cord stimulator, in April my mum reached out to Sandville to see if they could provide any support. 

Whilst I was slightly apprehensive about attending, once I had met everyone and had a tour of the facilities, I felt at home. All the staff and volunteers are lovely. I’ve never been to a place where there is just so many people who want to do as much as they can to help. I think in the space of about 5 minutes, I once had 4 different people offer me a drink. Julia is constantly offering me cake and seems determined to get me to break my diet but so far I’ve held strong! 

The facilities are incredible and I never realised how big Sandville actually is before attending. There’s lot of places to sit, a coffee shop, therapy rooms, a hair salon, a gym, a hydrotherapy pool plus much more. 

After Sandra found out I was struggling to wash my hair at home, she insisted on me having my hair done in the salon. Here is where I have to give a shoutout to the amazing Liz who every Wednesday washes, dries and straightens my hair. She has me leaving the salon with my hair looking amazing which helps me to feel more like myself. 

I have been trying acupuncture with Gareth the physio, in the hopes it may help to ease my pain. He is really knowledgeable about my condition and it has been great to be able to have honest conversations with him about my prognosis and potential options for further treatment. 

I’ve even had a session of hand reflexology which was relaxing and soothing for my hands as they take a constant battering from my wheelchair and crutches. Everyone is really easy to talk to and it’s been great to be able to discuss my thoughts with people who actually understand what I am going through. Even stupid things like complaining that my parents are annoying me because mum has had the audacity to breathe in my bedroom. I am also looking forward to taking a dip in the hydrotherapy pool when it opens. 

This walk is going to be a massive challenge for me to complete, not just because of the physical demands of pushing a wheelchair for 25 miles, but also because of my severe pain and the fact my foot begins to swell the minute I stop elevating it which worsens the pain even more. But after everything Sandville has done, and will continue to do for me, there is no way that I couldn’t sign up!