Help Me Walk Again

Hi everyone! As some of you know already, I have been very, very busy the last few weeks – I have started doing some new therapies which I am really excited about.

In addition to the physio I receive through ACC, with your donations I am funding two private physiotherapies; Neurophysics and Neurophysiotherapy.

I go to Neurophysics three times a week, where the focus is on sensation and what feedback I am getting from my paralysed body parts – particularly the feet. The belief is that once sensation is regained in the muscle, voluntary and controlled muscle movement will come back quickly and naturally. I am really enjoying this, it is making me much more aware of my body and my abilities, and I'm noticing improvement particularly in my sitting posture and balance.

Neurophysiotherapy is great, she is very enthusiastic about doing work with my lower limbs (which is something we have struggled to find in a physio until now)! Doing this physio has given me access to lots of cool equipment, including the Rex Bionics Exoskeleton in the picture. When I am in this exoskeleton, I am able to passively walk forwards, backwards, do lunges and squats, sidesteps, and even stand up and sit down the way the normal body would. I'm so lucky to be able to access this, she said I am the 15th person to be in it which is incredible for me, but also eye-opening as it shows how little others are accessing this type of rehab, whether it is because of lack of funding or lack of education.

I cannot reinforce enough how grateful I am for all of the donations and donators, as well as people who have given me advice on where to access these additional therapies. It is also a blessing to be based in Auckland, where there is so much available. Between Neurophysics, Neurophysiotherapy, physio, and the gym, I am keeping very busy and taking advantage of all that is there for me!

Thank you endlessly for your support, it means the world to me and it is making a huge difference xx