Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I was diagnosed with Scoliosis back in 2007 and the diagnosis was completely unexpected and it totally changed my life. A decade of hospital appointments, living in a body brace twenty-three hours a day and intensive daily physiotherapy followed, as the severe double curvature of my spine slowly improved, but then gradually deteriorated as I got older.  The pain was excruciating - no pain killer eased the pain, so I had to learn to live with it. 

After two years on Northern Ireland's surgical Waiting List, I was offered the opportunity to have my surgery carried out at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, near London. There's no denying that I was initially incredibly reluctant at the prospect of travelling from Belfast to London for the surgery, however as soon as I met my Consultant and Anaesthetist, I knew that it was the best thing to do. 

The first procedure took place on November 28 2015, with the second stage being carried out ten days later. I faced many complications and ended up having emergency surgery due to a collapsed lung. All in all, I had three procedures within the space of ten days . The relief I felt getting out of hospital three weeks later was indescribable. The journey back home to Belfast was quite the journey in itself! 

My recovery was incredibly challenging and at times, I felt like it was never going to end, but I eventually came out the other side and am virtually pain-free, aside from the occasional stiffness, which compared to the unbearable pain I was in before, I can cope with feeling stiff once in a while!

I will forever be indebted to each and every member of staff at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital who helped me during my time in hospital. I can't even begin to express my appreciation for my Consultant - Dr Lehovsky - and Anaesthetist - Dr Edge - for truly changing my life for the better. If someone had told me when I was in hospital that a couple of years later I would be running a half marathon, I would have refused to believe it. I want to help raise funds to say the biggest thank you to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital for the phenomenal life-saving work they do.