Latest news with #PaigeBeresford
Scottish Sun
27-06-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Spinal surgery saved my life, and given me the chance to walk down aisle
Paige has opened up about her battle with Scoliosis MY SCOLIOSIS STORY Spinal surgery saved my life, and given me the chance to walk down aisle Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) JUNE is Scoliosis Awareness Month. For those who struggle with the condition, it can be incredibly isolating. It affects around two per cent of the population and, according to a 2024 study by ScoliSmart, people with scoliosis are 45 per cent more likely than their peers to feel ashamed of their bodies. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 9 Paige has opened up about her battle with Scoliosis 9 Paige standing in for the first time after her spinal fusion surgery in October 2020 Credit: Paige Beresford / The Scottish Sun 9 By the time of her operation, she had a 53-degree curve Credit: Paige Beresford / The Scottish Sun 9 She had to have two rods and 16 screws put into her spine Credit: Paige Beresford / The Scottish Sun Meanwhile, six in ten are dissatisfied with the way they look. Today, Scottish Sun reporter PAIGE BERESFORD, 28, writes about her battle with Scoliosis, which she was diagnosed with aged 20. She tells how spinal fusion surgery saved her life and gave her a future. I REMEMBER the first time I heard the word 'scoliosis'. I was 20 and had gone to see my GP after a masseuse noticed my back was oddly shaped. He told me he thought I had a spinal deformity and was referring me to see a spinal specialist. Some days were so bad I couldn't get out of bed. I was terrified that this was how the rest of my life was going to be I didn't take much in from that appointment, just the odd words stuck out — 'twisted spine', 'surgery', 'back pain'. Almost ten months later, a spinal surgeon officially diagnosed me with Idiopathic Adolescent Scoliosis with a 38-degree curve. It meant my spine had started to twist and was now shaped like a letter 'S', which is why I was in constant pain. By the time I got home, my head was spinning. I started googling everything about scoliosis: What it was, how bad it could get and treatments. Mum reveals stinging herself with nettles banishes hay fever symptoms 'in minutes' I got stuck in a spiral where everything I looked at about the condition seemed worse and worse. The pictures were horrific and everything looked so painful. After a few days, I was totally disgusted with myself. I kept thinking, 'Is that really what I look like?' With every fibre in my being, I felt ugly, horrified, and so alone. I wanted to cover myself up from head to toe, I wanted to shut myself off from people so that no one could see just how disfigured I looked. I wanted the world to swallow me up so I wouldn't have to explain it to anyone. 9 The risky surgery left a huge scar on Paige's back, which she is proud of Credit: Paige Beresford / The Scottish Sun 9 Paige is now raising awareness for the condition Credit: Paige Beresford / The Scottish Sun 9 Paige standing tall eight months post-op after the surgery changed her life Credit: Paige Beresford / The Scottish Sun Over a few years, my condition worsened to the point where my curve reached 53 degrees. I was in constant pain and I couldn't get more than a few hours' sleep. I also had a horrible rib hump, a shoulder hump, distorted leg length discrepancy and uneven hips. My lung function had decreased by 30 per cent, and my heart had developed an irregular beat. Not to mention, I was taking so many painkillers, opioids and anti-inflammatories that doctors were worried about the long-term effects on my liver and kidneys. If I stood too long or went on a walk, I'd be in unbearable pain. Some days were so bad I couldn't get out of bed. What is Scoliosis and whaat are the symptoms? Scoliosis is where the spine twists and curves to the side. It can affect people of any age, from babies to adults, but most often starts in children aged 10 to 15. Signs of scoliosis include: A visibly curved spine Leaning to one side Uneven shoulders One shoulder or hip sticking out Ribs sticking out on one side Clothes not fitting well Back pain Treatment for scoliosis depends on your age, how severe the curve is, and whether it's likely to get worse with time. In around 8 out of every 10 cases, the cause of scoliosis is unknown. This is called idiopathic scoliosis. Idiopathic scoliosis cannot be prevented and is not thought to be linked to things such as bad posture, exercise or diet. Your genes may make you more likely to get it though, as it sometimes runs in families. Credit: NHS I was terrified that this was how the rest of my life was going to be. So when doctors said I qualified for spinal fusion surgery, I jumped at it. This was a major, life-changing surgery that involved inserting two metal rods and 16 screws into my back to stabilise my spine. My family were terrified and understandably so. It had some scary side effects, including the big risk of spinal cord damage, which could have left me in a wheelchair for the rest of my life, or even dead. It was so scary that when I met my now-fiancé two weeks before going under the knife, I warned him he might not want to get attached in case the worst happened. Learn to walk again But I knew I had to do it, and so I had the surgery in October 2020 when I was 24. Since it was during the Covid pandemic, only one person, my mum, was allowed to see me. This was heartbreaking for my sister and my dad, especially when I was taken to the ICU and my body began to shut down because I was forgetting to breathe. Having the surgery was the best decision I've ever made. It didn't just fix my spine, it also saved my life and gave me my future back After a rough few days, I was taken to a spinal ward where I had to learn how to stand and walk again, but the difference almost overnight was incredible. Despite the post-op pain at first, my shoulder hump had disappeared and I was two inches taller. It was a long recovery at home, but my amazing family helped me through and supported me every step of the way. If there's anything I've learned, it's that we all need someone to talk to, whether that's family, friends, a professional, or a charity like Scoliosis Support and Research. Princess Eugenie: Scar's a mark of honour PRINCESS Eugenie has revealed she embraces her scoliosis scar as a 'mark of honour' after undergoing surgery as a child. The 34-year-old initially felt a 'sense of shame' over the lasting mark but said mum Sarah Ferguson taught her to be proud of it. The princess went under the knife aged 12 after the Duchess of York noticed the curvature in her spine. In an Instagram post, she revealed: 'I thank her so much for that and thank her for the confidence to be proud of my scar. 'She removed all the stigma around having scoliosis for me and it took all the fear out of being different at a young age. 'I am forever grateful and wish everyone to be proud of their scars.' In 2002, Eugenie's eight-hour operation saw her have rods inserted into her spine. She spent three days in intensive care, a week on a spinal ward, and a further six days in a wheelchair before she could walk. In the months that followed, the young royal needed help to turn in bed and had to wear a brace. While Eugenie admits to feeling a 'sense of shame' over her inability to wash or dress herself at the time, she learned to love the scar down her back. The princess's wedding dress in 2018 even displayed the scar at the top of her back. Ahead of the ceremony, where she wed Jack Brooksbank, she said it was important to show 'people your scars'. She described it as a 'lovely way to honour the people who looked after me and a way of standing up for young people through this'. She added: 'I think you can change the way beauty is, and you can show people your scars and I think it's really special to stand up for that.' Eugenie is patron of Horatio's Garden, which helps nurture the wellbeing of people after spinal injury by creating gardens in NHS spinal injury centres. I saw a post on Scoliosis Warriors Facebook group which read: 'It's amazing in this age with social media we can help others daily with support and letting them know they're not the only ones dealing with struggles. There is strength in numbers.' Five years on from my surgery, I'm no longer in any pain, I don't take any medication, I have almost a full range of movement, never struggle to sleep, and my back is stronger than ever. I'm now 28 and healthy with my dream job, and I'm about to get married to a man who loves me as much as he is proud of me for what I have had to go through. And I have no limitations or worries about the future. I've also learned to love my body, and I'm proud to show off my huge scar. Having the surgery was the best decision I've ever made. It didn't just fix my spine, it also saved my life and gave me my future back. 9 Paige pictured before her surgery with uneven shoulders, a visible rib hum, uneven hips and leg legnth discrepency Credit: Paige Beresford / The Scottish Sun
Scottish Sun
08-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Fraser Suites serviced apartments offer luxury living and capital views
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) I'VE always had a foot in both of Scotland's two biggest cities — I'm a Glasgow girl through and through, but a part of me has always loved Edinburgh. I studied there, got my degree there, visit the Christmas Markets every year, and made countless memories on nights out and weekends away. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 The views from the Fraser Suites apartments in Edinburgh are incredible Credit: FRASER SUITES 7 The room was massive, and the bed was super comfortable Credit: FRASER SUITES 7 We loved looking out the window and relaxing as we took in the views Credit: FRASER SUITES 7 Ryan and I had the most relaxing stay Credit: Paige Beresford One of the things the capital city beats Glasgow on, however, is the stunning, iconic views from virtually anywhere in the city centre. And you'd struggle to find better views than those from our window in the Fraser Suites. There are hundreds of hotels and apartments to choose from in Edinburgh, but these four-star apartments have got to be among the best. My fiancé Ryan and I had booked to stay for a couple of nights, and we were beyond excited. When we arrived, we were greeted by a stunning stone building surrounded by beautiful greenery, bushes, and trees — it looked like we had just stepped into an exotic hotel somewhere in Europe. Inside, that feeling continued; the whole place exuded luxury, even the reception desk, which sat between bright white pillars with golden chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. But it was our room that completely knocked it out of the park. We were lucky enough to bag ourselves the Courant Suite on the second floor. It was gorgeous, incredible and massive. Walking through the door, the first sight that met us was the beautiful seating area with gold and cream wallpaper, floor-to-ceiling windows and a huge grey Chesterfield sofa, where we instantly plumped ourselves down and drank in that view. Scots holiday park named one of best in world There was a fab wee mini kitchen area, complete with a dishwasher, oven, sink and hob where you could make dinner or whip up a delicious breakfast if you wanted — great for longer stays or for those with kids I'd imagine but cooking was definitely not on my mind, not with the fabulous places Edinburgh has to eat out. Even the bathroom suite was huge, tiled floor to ceiling with an incredible waterfall shower over the bath. The bedroom's king-size bed, with a massive padded headboard, faced a huge TV. Late night viewing was a must — as was catching up with the world next morning, cuppa in hand, enjoying a lazy Sunday morning. Still in our jammies, we eventually dragged ourselves out of the bliss-like bed to drink in more of the incredible views of the castle from the windows. GO: EDINBURGH PRICES at the 48 Fraser Suites in Edinburgh are from £235 a night in June and July. See I could have sat there all day just people watching, but the allure of the city beat us into submission, and we headed out to enjoy all the capital had to offer. We wandered up the Royal Mile to the castle, stopping at a restaurant we'd never tried on the way back for a lovely, laid-back lunch. That's the thing about Edinburgh — no matter how often I come through, I always find a charming new place that surprises me. We then relaxed in what was a rare sunny afternoon in Princes Street Gardens, popped into a lovely wee bar in George Street for a coffee and browsed a few of the city's lovely independent little shops. When we got back to the room, we enjoyed a couple of drinks on that huge sofa. It was so comfortable that we decided to stay in, get cosy and just relax. Then we enjoyed another incredible sleep in that amazing big bed. I was out like a light, and in the morning, I woke up with the sound of bagpipes playing in the distance. I honestly can't remember the last time I felt as refreshed as I did after staying at the luxurious Fraser Suites. 7 Ryan and I had an incredible sleep on our nights away Credit: Paige Beresford 7 The suite even had its own little mini kitchen Credit: FRASER SUITES
Scottish Sun
23-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Luxury Rixos Radamis hotel is the perfect romantic escape for our ‘earlymoon'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WITH our wedding less than a year and a half away, my fiancé Ryan and I decided to take a break from all the stressful planning and treat ourselves to a quick week in the sun. However, we didn't for one second imagine we'd be able to enjoy a luxurious, out-of-this-world holiday, not while saving for our honeymoon. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 15 Rixos Radamis is an incredible five-star all-inclusive resort in Sharm El-Sheikh 15 And its located right on the beach with views over the Red Sea Credit: RIXOS RADAMIS 15 It was the perfect 'earlymoon' retreat to take away wedding planning stress Credit: Paige Beresford But when we saw the chance to stay at Rixos Radamis for a week — a five-star, all-inclusive hotel in Sharm El-Sheikh that looks more like a grand Egyptian palace than a resort — we jumped at it. Imagine everything your dream holiday could have, and then times it by a thousand, and you might just come close to what this incredible resort has to offer. In fact, calling it a 'resort' doesn't do it justice. It's more of a magnificent little island all on its own, tucked away inside the Nabq Bay area of this popular Red Sea destination. Once inside its hallowed walls, it was easy to forget the rest of the world actually existed. The second we arrived, we knew we were in for something special. From the outside, everything exuded luxury, and inside the massive lobby with its marble floors and gold chandeliers, we knew that we were where the other half holiday. Rixos has five hotels in Sharm El-Sheikh, but I would struggle to believe anyone who didn't agree that the Radamis tops them all. It's split into three large areas, first, there's Tirana, which is perfect for families with children, with its brightly coloured themed rooms. Then there's the Blue Planet section, which more caters to couples and adult groups. And finally, there is the brand new Beach area, which is where we stayed. In fact, it's so new, it was blissfully and peacefully quiet. But I doubt it will stay that way for long! Mystery new 'city' found underneath Egypt's Pyramids stretching 6,500ft BELOW surface in shock discovery, scientists say After a long day of travelling, we just wanted to get straight to our room, have a sleep and wake up ready for a week of bliss. Talking of which, the room was MASSIVE! It had a super comfy, king-size bed and a huge bathroom with a walk-in style shower and two large sinks, so no more fighting when getting ready at night. But it was the huge balcony that overlooked the beach and sea that stole my heart. 15 Deluxe room in the Beach section was spectacular 15 The grounds leading down to the stunning beach They weren't joking when they called it the 'beach' area — the golden sand and crystal blue waters really were the star of the show. Directly below us was the pool, and over to the left we could see the Red Sea stretch for miles. The next morning we woke up super excited to start our holiday proper. There was so much to explore in the resort with three pools, 15 restaurants, five bars and three lounges. And being all-inclusive, you needn't worry about any huge bills to shock you on checkout. Although it was impossible to sample everything in just seven days, we sure gave it our best shot! We both love our grub, so we headed to the People's restaurant on the beach to grab some lunch from the buffet and loved it so much we went back every single day! After satisfying our hunger, we had a quick tour of the place in a little buggy, which left our heads spinning. The place is huge. To give you an idea, to get from our room to the main Blue Planet area, we had to get a bus! But after lying at the pool all afternoon and changing quickly into our glam evening outfits, we found that the buses arrived every few minutes, and before we knew it, we were in the heart of the action. I've never been someone who is all that keen on hotel entertainment, but Rixos Radamis takes theirs to a whole new level! There's a massive stadium in the middle of the resort where we were treated to an incredible Madonna show, where talented dancers recreated the pop sensation's music videos as we sipped delicious cocktails well into the night. Music is a huge part of Rixos Radamis, and workers have actually just finished building a new second arena that fits 6,000 people right in time for superstar Enrique Iglesias, who performed on May 3. 15 It had an incredible lagoon in the heart of the resort for gondolas Credit: RIXOS RADAMIS 15 It was one of the most romantic experiences we've ever had Credit: Paige Beresford 15 The hotel has three pools, 15 restaurants, five bars and three lounges Credit: RIXOS RADAMIS 15 And global music star Jennifer Lopez is set to perform at the hotel in July Credit: Getty And it will definitely be full when Jennifer Lopez comes to perform on July 4 — I told you this is where the rich and famous holiday. For most of the week, we enjoyed nights of dancing and drinking, before heading back to our room to enjoy some of the best sleeps we've ever had abroad. Days were spent either relaxing at the glorious pool or on the gorgeous beach, topping up our tan and sipping drinks. And whenever we weren't watching a show in the evening, we were in the hotel's lively and friendly Irish Bar where Ryan watched some football matches and I sipped even more delicious cocktails. But the one thing that was even more delicious than the drinks was the mouth-watering food. My, oh my, every single meal we had was absolutely divine. Every restaurant offers five-star service. We were particularly fond of our dinners at the Mexican restaurant Cactus and Rasam, which serves Indian cuisine. GO: SHARM EL-SHEIKH GETTING/STAYING THERE: A week all-inclusive at the 5H Rixos Radamis is from £1,378pp leaving Glasgow on June 12. See MORE INFO: For more on the Rixos hotels in Sharm El-Sheikh see But the one that topped the lot was The Mangal, which offers a very special culinary experience. Here we feasted on incredible BBQ food served by our own private chef as we watched the sun set over the beach. Life just doesn't get any better. There are so many highlights from our time in Rixos Radamis that it's hard to list them all, but what I will say is make sure you book a Cabana with a jacuzzi for a special treat. We had one glorious day in one, where we were served cocktails by the amazing staff as we looked out at the sea from our jacuzzi under the scorching sunshine — absolute heaven. 15 The Cabana with a jacuzzi was one of the highlights Credit: RIXOS RADAMIS 15 The soon-to-be-weds enjoyed a romantic gondola ride along the resort's lagoon Credit: Paige Beresford And one standout memory just has to be our incredible gondola ride. That's right, there's a gondola that glides up a gorgeous river-like lagoon in the middle of the 'Beach' section, surrounded by hanging twinkling lights while you are serenaded with beautiful, soft harp music. It was one of the most romantic experiences of my life, and I'll carry that moment with me forever. Our holiday to Rixos Radamis was one of the best of our lives — it had everything we could dream of and more. If our honeymoon is half as special, spectacular and unforgettable, I will be over the moon. 15 The food was incredible, and our favourite restaurant was The Mangal Credit: Paige Beresford 15 We also visited the People's restaurant every day for lunch Credit: RIXOS RADAMIS 15 Japanese specialities at Wabi Sabi
