Having just turned 40, seemingly fit and healthy, I suffered a stroke in January due to an Atrial Myxoma in my heart, which resulted in an above knee amputation to my left leg, surgery to my right, and critical open heart surgery. I also suffered a collapsed lung and had a seizure thereafter. It all happened very suddenly and altogether is quite a rare case, I have been told.

I am more than lucky to be alive, but since leaving hospital I am challenged with facing a whole new world, overwhelming to say the least.

A dancer for 20 years, and currently employed as a site warden, fire marshal and first responder, I have lived my life through my legs, cycled everywhere and never driven, and depended heavily on them for income. I am very grateful for what they achieved and will miss them grately. We just can't fully know what we've got until it's gone, unfortunately.

I live alone, with no driving ability, low funds, and facing the costs of mobility options and accessories, travel, prosthetics and medical bills, as well as rehabilitation back into society. I am somewhat young, they say, and so it will be a long journey as I find new ways to live a fulfilling life again, hopefully for some time yet!

And so I reach out for the possibility of support for my quest. The challenge of starting life anew.

I have set a target of £20,000 since in time there will be a car and driving lessons, mobility scooters that can handle all terrain and long distance for my work, medical bills, disabled equipment, and any other requirements that may arise. I am hoping to return to work as soon as physically possible and fund myself. However the reality is that until then there is only basic sick pay, the long wait for government support, and the hope of a speedy recovery.

Any excess contributions that aren't personally necessary, will be given to charity to help fund similar cases and causes, such as Royal Papworth hospital, where I was blessed to receive my life saving heart surgery. Everyone I met there deserves more than I could ever give.

In time, hopefully I will be able to get involved and contribute both my time and money to a number of supporting charities, but for now this is where I begin. To stand and walk again.

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page and read my story.

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