Help Me Walk Again After Spinal Cord Injury

Hello to everyone reading, mates, family, strangers, my names Matt and I just wanted to say, before you get into it, thank you for taking the time to read through this. 

Back in March, I got a weird feeling in my legs like they lost power and felt too heavy to walk. Over the next few months it started happening every few weeks, but didn't really impact me day to day, so I carried on as I was. I had started a new job on my feet, so thought it was my body just getting used to it even though I kind of knew it didn’t feel right. 

Then it started to happen almost every day, my legs would be too heavy to do simple tasks like walk up stairs or ride a bike. I went to my GP and they sent me for an MRI to see if it was a slipped disc in my back pressing on my nerves. 

After a long night in A&E, one of the neurosurgeons told me they found an abnormality in my back called AVM (Artieriorvenus Malformation), which is where a vein in my back wasn't been pumping out blood fast enough and caused a mass to build up in my spine. Spinal AVM’s are very rare affecting about 1 in a million people. It’s a hard experience to describe, an out of body sort of thing that feels like it’s not actually happening to you. 

They told me the operation should be a success and there was only a 20/1 chance that my symptoms would get worse, so they booked it in for the week following. I was allowed out of hospital until surgery, so walked out the doors, went to the pub with friends and family, and walked back in on the Sunday night for the last time since. 

When I woke up from surgery, neither of my legs worked anymore, and I was told I had suffered incomplete spinal cord injury due to the blood flow being cut off to my spine.

I am currently in a wheelchair and I am unable to walk or stand, but I am working really hard and trying to get things back to the way they were. I often think about how life will be down the line, but mostly I miss the things I loved. Walking on the beach after swimming, dancing all night at a festival, cooking a meal when you’re in no rush and kicking a football round with mates in summer. 

There is a chance I will walk again but it is going to take a long time for things to reconnect. I’ve received incredible care from the NHS over the last 4 months, but the system is overwhelmed and I will be out of hospital sooner than expected, still unable to walk.

I’m raising funds for neurological physiotherapy and equipment which I will need after I leave to give me the a chance to walk again. Every donation, no matter how small, will go directly toward my recovery. Whether you can give financially or simply share my story, your support means a lot and is very appreciated. 

Thank you,

Matt