My Story - John Watts aged 43

There's no such word as CAN'T Posted by JOHN WATTS

February 12th 2002: I went to bed at midnight, a very fit, healthy, non-smoking, non-drinking 43-year-old male, employed as an HGV tanker driver in the UK Petroleum Industry - 4 hours later my life had changed forever, I woke up having a serious brain haemorrhage, later to be diagnosed as an Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM). I was completely paralysed down the left side of my body - I was rushed to Hurstwood Park Neurological Hospital at Haywards Heath, where doctors told me that I was very lucky to be alive, but unfortunately there was a possibility that I may never walk, or use my arm again - LUCKY??? how could that be lucky? - that was moment I decided that I wasn't going to let this illness beat me. There was a very high possibility that I would require brain surgery to remove the AVM, but this could not be accessed until the blood clot had dispersed naturally, so after 4 weeks at Hurstwood Park, I was transferred to Southlands Rehab Hospital at Shoreham - during the next 12 weeks I was allowed to start a “light” rehabilitation program, and underwent numerous tests including Angiograms, CT scans and MRI scans, all confirming that embolisation treatment would not be possible, and that I would need a Craniotomy (brain surgery).

July 19th 2002: I was transferred back to Hurstwood Park Neurological Hospital for the Craniotomy, where my Neurosurgeon - Mr.Critchley - explained the seriousness of the brain surgery, and the possibilities of my paralysis being increased - 11 hours in the operating theatre (taken apart and rebuilt) 5 titanium plates screwed into my skull and 55 staples to hold it all together, into ICU for 4 days where I suffered 2 post-op Epileptic seizures, and then onto ward for a further 2 weeks .... then, at last I was allowed home - able to walk a few paces with a foot brace and stick, but still no use in my arm, and still requiring the use of a wheelchair, but I was alive, I'd beaten the odds, and I was going home.

August 2004: things are looking good, I have been given the “all clear” from both my neuro-surgeon and rehab consultant, my driving license has been reinstated (with restrictions), and I’m defying all the original medical predictions - after many, many hours in my local gymnasium, plus privately funded physiotherapy and hydrotherapy, on a good day I can walk over 2 miles without a stick or ankle support, and I have some semi functional use returning in my arm. The downside of my recovery is that my HGV licence and Dangerous Goods certificate have both been revoked by the DVLA for life, which means that I’ll never be able to return to my pre-illness employment. I’ve been told that returning to physical work is unlikely, and with short term memory problems and epilepsy, retraining in a different environment would be very difficult, although it’s my ultimate goal to prove them wrong.

February 2005: Despite having to make a 220 mile round trip, I have started Functional Electrical Stimulation treatment at Odstock Hospital, Salisbury, Wiltshire. The treatment has had a dramatic effect on my stability, balance and walking pattern, I have now upgraded my old fitness regime – still 7 days a week / 52 weeks a year – but my new daily regime now consists of a FOUR MILE walk (not bad for someone they said was destine never to walk again!) followed by 60 minutes in the gym (four days a week) plus hydrotherapy (once a week).

November 2006: I've just started Stim-u-Step Electrical Implant treatment at Odstock - I'm only the THIRD person in the UK to get NHS funding for this type of treatment - a truly bionic leg! The daily fitness regime is still 7 days a week / 52 weeks a year - but on a good day, it's now a SIX MILE walk, followed by 90 minutes in the gym. Realistically, I would estimate that I have regained 30% functional use in my arm and 70% functional use in my leg.

Even though I thought that I'd never be able to fly or enjoy a beach holiday again, with the support of my wife, we have had holidays in Malta in 2003, the Dominican Republic in 2004, Cancun in 2005, and Jamaica in 2006 … and we've booked to go to Mexico in 2007 (a very special holiday because it's also our 25th wedding anniversary while we are there).

Unfortunately, many of your family, friends, and work colleagues will let you down, but the ones that don't are your true friends, and they are the ones that will always be there to support both you, and your family throughout your recovery - however long it takes.

Just remember, we all have bad days, but the word CAN'T should not be part of your vocabulary - if you really want it, you CAN achieve it.

Thanks to John for sending in his profile. Anyone else who would like to share their story can send it along with a photograph (if you're not shy!)

• c/o PROFILES,
• Click here for address