Emma’s Story: Rediscovering life after spinal cord injury
2 April 2025
Meet Emma:
– wife and mum of two boys
– volunteers at a local hospice (as well as with Back Up!)
– supports Back Up in a range of ways – from Group Leading to fundraising
We recently heard from Emma, who wrote a wonderful blog about how Back Up helped her with rediscovering life after spinal cord injury. Our Multi Activity Course showed her that if she can kayak and zipline, then going to the shops or getting on a bus is no problem. Read her blog below.
In February 2020 after a fall, and many weeks of pain in my legs, I awoke one morning and collapsed. From that moment our lives were well and truly flipped upside down. Following several surgeries I was to learn I had sustained a spinal cord injury and was paralysed from the waist down.
After five weeks, I was transferred to Pinderfields Spinal Unit where I spent another three months. I learnt how to sit up without toppling over, how to get dressed, to shower, to transfer, to manage my personal care, to use a wheelchair (believe me when I say it’s not as easy as it looks) and to accept the new life ahead of me.
Luck really wasn’t on my side as Covid hit during my stay in the first hospital. The day I arrived at the Spinal Unit was the day all visiting was stopped. It was a very lonely three months without visits from friends or family, but this made me all the more focused and determined as I had an even bigger reason to get home.
It was in hospital I first discovered Back Up. There were leaflets and posters dotted around the ward and – with the very temperamental internet – I managed to connect with them virtually and chat about the support they would be able to offer once restrictions were lifted. Once home, I was matched with one of their mentors who had a similar injury level, home life and interests to me. I spent the next 10 weeks being given advice, encouragement and reassurance from a wonderful lady.
It was during those 10 weeks – with the backing of my mentor – that I found the courage and determination to venture out of the safety of my home and start to explore the world.
Just over a year after I came home, I booked myself on a Back Up Multi Activity Course in the Lake District. This was by far the bravest thing I had done since leaving the hospital. It felt extremely daunting but turned out to be one of the best decisions I have ever made. I arrived nervous, unsure of myself and believing I had made a huge mistake. The only thing keeping me from getting straight back in the car was the thought that if I could abseil and kayak, I could definitely get on a bus and do the supermarket shop.
During the first night, we had to introduce ourselves to the other participants and talk about why we were there and our aims for the week. One of the things that will stick with me forever is how unbelievably sad I felt. I told the group I had become resigned to the fact that I’d never be happy again. Little did I know that it was to be that week that would change everything for me. I spent seven days pushing up mountains, abseiling, kayaking across lakes, whizzing along a zip wire, all whilst being cheered on by the most wonderful people I could possibly have been with. I laughed until my cheeks hurt.
My partner Phil collected me and couldn’t believe the difference. , I don’t think I stopped for breath all the way back to Leeds because I was chattering so much. I was definitely not the sad, anxious person he’d said goodbye to. Back Up helped me find my smile again.
Since that first life-changing course, I have trained to become a volunteer Group Leader and a Regional Support Volunteer with Back Up. I will also be training to become a Wheelchair Skills Trainer this summer. I have been lucky enough to lead on several courses and watch the transformation of others. I am also a Mentor supporting others with a spinal cord injury and love every minute working with Back Up.
It seems a lifetime ago that I was lying in a hospital bed wondering how my life would pan out. But as I have learnt life isn’t over, it just needs to be lived a different way. It never ceases to amaze me how much one charity can impact someone’s life so much. Back Up has given me so much confidence and opportunities I never believed could be possible.
Thank you to Emma for sharing this blog with us! We’re glad Back Up helped with rediscovering life after spinal cord injury. Throughout this year Emma will be fundraising for Back Up. Check out this page to learn more and show your support!
