Walking tall now, but a rare virus changed her life (From Bournemouth Echo)

Walking tall now, but a rare virus changed her life

9:00am Wednesday 7th July 2010 in

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KATIE Page was just 19 – a talented athlete with her whole life ahead of her – when she was suddenly struck down with a rare virus that left her paralysed from the chest down.

Doctors told her she would be in a wheelchair for the rest of her life but just eight months later Katie was back at university determined to prove them wrong.

“I was at that age when you feel invincible,” she says. “I’d had a gap year out and was enjoying life at university. I went home during the Christmas break feeling unwell – I thought I had flu.

“My legs started to ache so I went to bed and took some painkillers but the ache became an agonising pain and by the morning my legs were completely numb – it was terrifying.”

Katie was taken to three different hospitals before eventually being diagnosed with a rare condition called Transverse Myelitis, an auto-immune disorder which attacks the spinal cord. She was hospitalised for three months.

“I was told I had to accept the fact that I was going to be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life but I refused to believe it.

“I told them I would be back at university by September – I remember the look of disbelief on the doctor’s face.”

To aid her recovery, Katie explored every option available to her which was when she began to uncover therapies involving the mind and body connection.

“My parents and friends were amazing. I remember my dad pushing my wheelchair and reminding me to be positive yet realistic so I set myself small goals every day such as taking a few steps around my bed – and I kept a journal of my progress.”

Eventually Katie was able to return to university and complete her degree in sports psychology.

“I had a few balance issues but people wouldn’t have known I was ill. Doctors were surprised when I walked into hospital with my degree papers. If I had listened to what they had told me I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”

For the next seven years Katie worked in the United States working with mind aspects in terms of business management. When she returned to the UK she met physical trainer Mark Hooks, a fellow believer in the power of the mind in terms of physical achievement as he had also battled against a long-term illness.

“The mind and body can’t be separated if you want to set yourself up for long-term success so we set up Reboot Dorset which combines the physical, psychological and nutritional elements. It includes individual training prior to a residential week as well as a three-month aftercare programme.

“This isn’t a quick fix – it’s about creating a lifestyle to make permanent changes and it works for a wide range of people from those wanting to train for a marathon to somebody who is obese and wants to lose weight.”

Although it’s more than 10 years since she was first diagnosed, Katie who is now 32 and living in Lymington, is still setting herself physical challenges.

“I can play a bit of golf, tennis and swim but I want to start running again so I have set myself a goal to be running again in 12 months time.

“Although it was hell at the time I can now see it was a journey with a purpose. I’m now able to help other people as a result of that experience.

“I firmly believe that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. People often focus on what’s going wrong instead of what’s going right but whatever happens in life you can always find something positive.”