I was paralysed and now I’m taking on the biggest challenge of my life – Maddie’s story
When Maddie suffered a life-changing brain haemorrhage, it had devastating consequences, which meant Maddie had to learn basic motor skills from scratch. She’s now taking on another huge personal challenge by running the 95km distance from her home to the Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC), where she was treated.
She shared her emotional story with us:
“In April 2018, my life was turned upside down when I suffered from a brain haemorrhage. Afterwards, I was left completely paralysed and spent five days in an induced coma. From that point on, everything changed.
I had to relearn how to walk, talk and eat again – things that many of us take for granted. It was a long and difficult road, and for 12 weeks I remained in hospital to undergo intensive rehabilitation.
The staff were by me every step of the way, not just in helping me to recover physically, but support me as I tried to rebuild my sense of self and identity, which I felt I had completely lost. Although a lot of my memory from when I was really poorly is blurred, what stands out clearly to me is the connection I formed with the staff at QMC and the incredible support I received from everyone there.
Even after leaving hospital, my recovery was far from over. For three years, I returned to QMC for scans and further procedures, and to this day I still face cognitive challenges that affect me daily. Recovery isn’t something that ended for me, it’s still ongoing and continues to shape who I am.
That’s why, this September, I’m taking on an immense challenge: running the 95km distance from my home to QMC over seven days — 13.5km every day. It’s my way of showing just how far I’ve come, and more importantly, saying thank you to the team who gave me my second chance at life. Without their care, compassion, and dedication, I wouldn’t be here today, back on my feet and able to do something like this.
This run is about gratitude, resilience, and giving back. The staff at QMC didn’t just save my life — they gave me hope, strength, and the chance to rediscover myself. By taking on this challenge, I want to raise vital funds to support the hospital so that thousands of other patients like me can receive the same life-saving care and long-term support.
Every donation, no matter how big or small, will make a difference. You’ll be helping others to rebuild their lives — just as I continue to rebuild mine.”
We’re wishing Maddie the best of luck with her challenge and her recovery. If you wanted to support her, you can donate to her JustGiving page by clicking here.