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From Life Threatening through Life Saving to Life Changing...my personal story.

On May 23rd 2020, my son Tom is taking part in the London Brighton Ultra Marathon. Running 100Km from Richmond Park to
Brighton Racecourse.  He is running this on my behalf to raise money for a Charity that played a vital role in my recovery from a life-threatening infection. 
The Charity is Horatio’s Garden and I encourage you to visit their
website https://www.horatiosgarden.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/  to ‘meet’ Horatio, read his story and his vision for supporting patients and their families whilst recovering from trauma.

Almost a year to the day that Tom will be running, (May 26^th 2019), I
was struck down with a severe pain in my back. 
It was so debilitating that we called 111 and I was directed to go
straight to A & E.  That was the first moment that started a 5 month journey from being a fit and generally healthy, constantly active lady of a certain age, to someone who became seriously ill and paralysed from the waist down requiring major trauma surgery.

Initially, after a lot of investigation – x-rays, scans and biopsy I was diagnosed with a Staphylococcus Aureus infection in my spine which was causing the pain and by this time, fever. I remained as an inpatient and was given strong antibiotics and analgesia.

At first I was quite mobile, able to sit out of bed and take care of my own needs. My family and I believing that I was on the road to recovery and that the medication would clear the infection. However that wasn’t to be the case…one morning during a visit to the bathroom I fell - my legs just ‘gave way’!

Unfortunately that was the start of the distressing phase of immobility and ultimately paralysis. It all happened very quickly.  The pain was getting worse and I became completely bedridden and under the effect of heavy but necessary medication.

From that point my condition deteriorated rapidly and I was urgently transferred (with blue lights flashing) to The John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, for major spinal surgery.  Although this was alarming it did provide us with hope that the operation would relieve the pain because by this stage this was my main focus of attention.  I just needed the pain to be gone.

Once we arrived it didn’t take long at all to be admitted and put into the care of the Trauma Team.  While a team of surgeons, led by one of the
best spinal surgeons in the world, was assembled I was made aware of the severity of my condition.  I was informed that I had a spinal abscess. The infection was causing erosion of my spine and as a result there was compression on my spinal cord.

The Consultant told us that although they would be able to clear most of the infection and re-construct my spine it was highly probable that I would remain paralysed and still experience some residual pain due to nerve damage.

My family and I were made fully aware of numerous risks associated with such an operation, and that it would take approx. 8 hours.  Oh my goodness! This was a lot to take in.

The operation went well, the surgeons were pleased with the outcome.  The infection was now under control; my spine was being supported by a strong metal cage and the greatest news of all…my condition was no longer life threatening.  I was in recovery and heading towards rehabilitation.  Phew! 

Within 2 days physiotherapists were at my bedside and they became a regular feature.  It wasn’t long before they had me out of bed
and sitting in a chair again, and that’s when we started to see an improvement in my mobility.  I had some movement in my feet and then my legs and although I wasn’t weight bearing it was beyond anything that we could have hoped for.

After a short spell at Nuffield Bone Infections Unit I was transferred to The National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville for on-going recovery and rehabilitation.  During this time my rehabilitation was a
mixture of Pilates, physio, swimming, various strengthening exercises and even the odd foray into wheelchair fencing, table tennis and badminton.  I was improving day by day.  The progress was amazing. 

It was at this point that I was encouraged to visit Horatio’s Garden.  It
was now August and this was to be my first time outside since May…I was ready to reconnect with the world.  I was looking forward to exploring the garden, however I wasn’t prepared for the impact that it would have on me. 

I visited Horatio’s Garden on a daily basis.  It became my haven; a beautiful place to spend time with my family and friends.

It also provided somewhere safe for me to learn to walk again.  I was able to practise – outside of the gym – manoeuvring my chair, using a frame and crutches and finally sticks.  It was liberating.

Above all it also provided a sanctuary for my husband Geoffrey and I as we were adjusting to our ‘new normal’.

I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that Horatio’s garden was vital in the recovery of both my physical mobility and my mental wellbeing.”

Together with the specialist help, incredible care, my true grit and determination, tears and lots of laughter I was able to leave the centre in October not just with my chair but also walking with sticks.

I am now mobile, ‘quite’ independent and enjoying life at home.  As spring approaches I’m ‘tottering and pottering’ in my own garden, taking delight in seeing new life appear.  What a difference a year makes.

To celebrate all that I am now, every step that Tom takes in May will allow me to say thank you to Horatio, his parents and the amazing volunteers at Horatio’s Garden, NSIC Stoke Mandeville.

Thank you for taking time to read this, and if you are able to contribute, I thank you with all of my heart.

 https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/elaine-beckley

Elaine.

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