Bristol student left partly paralysed after seizure led to FND
"It was a very big change and a lot to deal with - my life pretty much changed overnight," she said."There's limited understanding of the condition and there's often this phrase used to describe it that says, 'it's not a hardware problem it's more of a software problem'."
Health officials describe FND as a variable disorder that could be considered rare, but the exact number of people with it is unknown.People with the disorder can have many symptoms that can vary from person to person - things such as functional seizures, limb weakness, tics and cognitive problems with dissociative and sensory issues.
Ms Watts-Martin said she was "heartbroken" after she was unable to continue with her course, but was supported by her family in Bristol."My family were amazing," she said."The health support that's available is slim to nothing. I ended up going private with Plymouth Neurophysio."She has since moved to Plymouth Marjon University where she has found "joy" in wheelchair basketball and connected with a "supportive" community of wheelchair users.Ms Watts-Martin aims to raise £2,000 by doing a marathon in her wheelchair throughout August.The funds will go towards a new standing chair that will hopefully help her to "walk again one day "."I'll do bits of it in Plymouth, Bristol and anywhere else I can," she added.Her challenge starts on 1 August and will continue until the end of the month.
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4 days ago
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Bristol student left partly paralysed after seizure led to FND
A student says her "whole life changed overnight" after having a seizure while out with her friends, leading to her becoming paralysed from the waist Watts-Martin, 21, from Bristol, was at university in Plymouth in 2023 when she had a serious seizure and was soon after diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) .The condition affects the way the brain and nervous system work and is one that health officials still have a "limited understanding" of, even though research into it is Watts-Martin is now trying to raise awareness of the illness and funds for equipment to help her stand again "one day" by doing a marathon in her wheelchair. "It was a very big change and a lot to deal with - my life pretty much changed overnight," she said."There's limited understanding of the condition and there's often this phrase used to describe it that says, 'it's not a hardware problem it's more of a software problem'." Health officials describe FND as a variable disorder that could be considered rare, but the exact number of people with it is with the disorder can have many symptoms that can vary from person to person - things such as functional seizures, limb weakness, tics and cognitive problems with dissociative and sensory issues. Ms Watts-Martin said she was "heartbroken" after she was unable to continue with her course, but was supported by her family in Bristol."My family were amazing," she said."The health support that's available is slim to nothing. I ended up going private with Plymouth Neurophysio."She has since moved to Plymouth Marjon University where she has found "joy" in wheelchair basketball and connected with a "supportive" community of wheelchair Watts-Martin aims to raise £2,000 by doing a marathon in her wheelchair throughout funds will go towards a new standing chair that will hopefully help her to "walk again one day "."I'll do bits of it in Plymouth, Bristol and anywhere else I can," she challenge starts on 1 August and will continue until the end of the month.
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