On the 8th of October 2017 at 2pm, the Redingensians Sirens ran out onto the pitch at Old Bath Road to play their first league game of the season against Bracknell RFC.
Every single one of the girls was a combination of excitement, adrenaline and pure nerves. We all knew that Bracknell were a formidable team having played them previously, but we were all geared up and ready to attack the next 70 minutes with all our heart and soul.
Sadly, with only minutes left on the clock, the game took a turn for the worst. Dani Watts, our number 7, took a tackle off the ball, and was left so badly injured, that she was ultimately left paralysed from the navel downwards.
Dani has spent the last 57 days at The John Radcliffe Hospital where she had major spinal surgery. Her determination and resilience during the last 5 weeks has been astounding, awe inspiring and also humbling.
The prognosis is unclear, but Dani has been sailing through her Physiotherapy programme, getting stronger and more independent every day, challenging not only her body and mind, but also her physiotherapists, as it appears that they are struggling to find things to do with her anymore!
