Latest news with #SpinaBifida
ITV News
2 days ago
- Health
- ITV News
Spirit of Sport Northern Ireland winner Helen Logan 'motivated and able'
'If I can help one other person it will all be worth it', explained Helen Logan who is this year's Spirit of Sport Northern Ireland Winner. Helen Logan was born with a condition called Spina Bifida and has now set up a charity called Motived and Able to help those who have disabilities and struggle with their mental health. Located in the town of Ballymoney, Helen wants to make a difference. Approximately one in every thousand children are born with Spina Bifida in Northern Ireland. According to a 2025 survey from the Spina Bifida Association it highlighted that: 'Social difficulties, including immaturity and passivity, fewer friends and fewer social contacts outside are important issues with children with Spina Bifida, and this tends to continue into adulthood'. This shows that people who have Spina Bifida struggle emotionally alongside dealing with this condition. After winning the award in 2024 for Inspirational Woman of the Year and the 2025 Spirit of Northern Ireland Award, Helen wants to help people in similar situations like her. Her aims are to lift others who grapple with pain and hopelessness. Helen commented 'the biggest thing holding me back is pain', she shares her personal battles with depression and the challenges of adapting to her condition. 'I was in bed for months on end with pain and the only way to get me out of bed was to accept a wheelchair', trying to adapt to a life changing situation. Spina Bifida causes Helen to experience pain daily. Accepting the fact that the only way that she could go about her life was to adapt to her wheelchair was hard as she explained, 'I was in a dark place but accepting the chair changed my life for the better'. Her message is clear: movement and acceptance are vital for a fulfilling life. Helen is offering workshops to help power individuals to take control of their narratives, encouraging them to find strength in their circumstances. As Helen continues her work, she aims to organise a four-week workshop, collaborate with local charities, and represent Northern Ireland through her athletic pursuits and motivational speaking. Her journey is a testament to the transformative power of resilience, community, and the unwavering spirit to overcome life's challenges. Reflecting on her childhood, Helen recalls the numerous surgeries and the challenges of wearing calipers. Her mother's unwavering support served as the foundation for her resilience, instilling in her the belief that she could overcome any obstacle. Grace, a dedicated coach who works at a gym called Forge Fitness located in Ballymoney, played a critical role in Helen's journey, fostering a welcoming atmosphere that helped her overcome initial fears. Helen recalls the warmth she felt, especially when Grace made her and her daughter feel at home during their first visit. Helen recalls: 'I was a bit hesitant as I had been to three other gyms and the minute I said Spina Bifida, and the minute they saw the chair, they almost took this giant step back'. Helen opens up about people seeing someone who is a wheelchair user as she said, 'I think it's fear'. But Forge Fitness's supportive environment allowed Helen to focus on her fitness goals, opening doors to new possibilities. Helen's determination has not only inspired her but also those around her. Grace emphasises the importance of creating an inclusive space, where individuals can pursue their fitness goals without feeling marginalised. Grace said 'my impression of Helen was this is another woman who wants to join the gym', growing up with a brother who has special needs Grace understands that sometimes people needs are different and that is okay. Understanding this makes the bond formed between Grace and Helen positive as Grace has tailored workouts that prioritise Helen's strengths, further motivating others in the community. Taking the disability out of it, Grace highlighted 'just because Helen's in the chair it doesn't make her needs different from anyone else. She wants to get fitter. She wants to feel her best self. She has a goal." Grace asked the question 'here's a woman that wants to do her best, how can we help her, the same goes for every woman who enters this gym'. Not being asked about her disability, Helen felt that she was not labelled as just an ordinary woman. 'I did not want our conversations and our sessions to become labelled because actually there is so much more you can do with Spina Bifida than maybe other people', Grace said. Grace described her attitude for every member who enters the gym, 'For every woman who comes in here, it's not oh, you're menopausal, oh you're over fifty, oh you've got three kids'. Grace reinforced that 'yes you are a woman let's see what we can achieve without any boxes'. Forge Fitness has named some of the exercises after Helen as they don't exist in the world as they are adapted for Helen's needs as Grace explained, 'We have come up with new exercises as it's like, well how can I help Helen achieve this, let's do this movement but change it so that it suits Helen'. Helen also stated: 'It's just so good as I train with the other girls and there's not a difference made which is great'. As Helen continues her work, she aims to organise a four-week workshop, collaborate with local charities, and represent Northern Ireland through her athletic pursuits and motivational speaking. Her journey is a testament to the transformative power of resilience, community, and the unwavering spirit to overcome life's challenges. Helen will be speaking at events taking place on Wednesday 30th of July at 2pm and Thursday the 28th of August. These talks will be located in the Oasis Centre in Abbey Street, Coleraine. In a world that often overlooks the power of inclusivity, Helen stands as a symbol of hope, proving that with the right support, anyone can rise above their circumstances and inspire others along the way.
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Meet Jude Geoghegan, inspirational coach with spine defect who realised Wembley dream at Community Shield
Jude collected a prize at the Grassroots Football Awards on Sunday COACH OF THE YEAR Meet Jude Geoghegan, inspirational coach with spine defect who realised Wembley dream at Community Shield JUDE GEOGHEGAN celebrated the proudest moment of his young career at with a Wembley award this weekend. The 20-year-old was born with a spine condition which means he has to use crutches in everyday life. Advertisement 3 Jude Geoghegan has overcome a spine condition to realise his Wembley dream Credit: The FA 3 The 20-year-old won Coach of the Year Disability Pathway at the Grassroots Football Awards, and was presented with his prize by FA chief Mark Bullingham and Paul Merson Credit:Play Dream Team now! Play The Sun Dream Team ahead of the 2025/26 season Free to play Over £100,000 in total prize money Play in Mini Leagues against your mates Submit a team for Gameweek 1 to enter £5,000 prize draw Play via Dream Team's app or website today! But the determined youngster didn't let that stand in the way of his football dreams. Jude started an inclusion team at his side Estudiantes in north London, creating opportunities for players with all different levels of disability. And Geoghegan won Coach of the Year Disability Pathway at the Grassroots Football Awards this weekend. He was presented with his prize by Paul Merson and FA chief Mark Bullingham before the Community Shield on Sunday. Advertisement The 20-year-old spoke to SunSport before Liverpool's clash with Crystal Palace. He said: "Being here is something I've dreamed of - it means a lot to me, and my family and friends as well. "Since I started coaching 11 months ago, it's been something that I've really wanted to get to and I feel like I've accomplished that." 3 Jude Geoghegan is a fan of Tottenham and his taken his programme to Premier League club bases Credit: The FA Advertisement CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Geoghegan has Spina Bifida - a neural tube defect. According to the NHS website, it is when a baby's spine and spinal cord do not develop properly in the womb, causing a gap in the spine. Geoghegan said: "It affects my walking because I use crutches. Advertisement "But I've overcome that because I've started to realise that there's a lot of inclusive pathways in sport. "I got into football when I was five or six years old. "I always used to play outside my back garden but never used to really get into a team. "In 2021, I became part of the Estudiantes London. Advertisement "They really made me feel included and that's when we started our inclusion programme. "I started coaching because I wanted to make football more inclusive at the club I was at. "I found it a bit nerve-wracking at first, but in the last six or seven months I've gained more confidence." Geoghegan is a Tottenham supporter, but has taken his programme to Premier League grounds for training sessions. Advertisement He still has big ambitions for coaching despite already overcoming the odds. "We've been to Chelsea and Fulham," he said. "And month we go to Watford as well. "I want to start coaching and opening doors within Premier League clubs and try and improve the inclusion programme. "The team have got a lot more confident in their playing, they're much more talkative. Advertisement "I feel it gives them a lot of confidence to do what I do, whether it's playing or coaching, because you never know where you could end up."
Daily Mail
28-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Mother from hell neglected son so badly his legs rotted off, police say
A wicked Missouri mother neglected her son so badly that his legs rotted off and had to be amputated, according to police. Catiga Wren Arnett, 54, was arrested on July 16 for the abuse of an elderly, disabled or vulnerable person after police found her adopted son, who has Spina bifida, allegedly enduring heinous conditions, according to court documents reviewed by Daily Mail. Her son, who has the mental capacity of a 10-year-old, lived with Arnett in Noel - about five hours from Kansas City - where the reported neglect occurred between January 1 and March 7, records revealed. Her child's age was not mentioned in the legal filing, but his condition - a birth defect that causes the spinal cord not to close completely during pregnancy - has 'rendered him a paraplegic,' court documents said. Paramedics were called to Arnett's home on March 7 where they found her son on his bedroom floor wearing only an adult diaper, per the report. Authorities also saw 'extensive decubitus,' or bedsores, that were 'readily visible on his legs and other parts of his body,' the filing read. His 'bone and tendon were visible' as well. Authorities also noted he had a colostomy bag port, 'but the bag was not present,' the filing stated. Her child also had a catheter with an empty bag filled with calcified residue, suggesting he 'had not urinated for an extended period.' After her son was found, he was transported to Freeman Hospital and the Missouri Orthopedic Institute in Columbia, court documents stated. The victim's severe injuries ultimately resulted in him needing a double amputation of his legs, the filing showed. Arnett pleaded guilty on July 10 in McDonald County Circuit Court. When Daily Mail contacted her listed public defender, they said they 'do not currently represent this individual.' Her bond was set at $2,500 under the condition that she appears in court, follows court orders, does not commit new offenses and does not tamper with witnesses or victims. Arnett is due back in court for a bond review hearing on August 13, per her records. This is not her first time in trouble with the law, as past court records revealed Arnett has several traffic violations, records showed. She also pleaded guilty in 2022 to a miscellaneous health and safety charge, which refers to various violations that endanger or could potentially endanger the health and safety of others. It is unclear exactly what the details of her charge are. Arnett's husband, Steve Arnett, was arrested in April 2023 for strangling and kicking a child. According to court records, he was sentenced to two counts of probation for endangering the welfare of a child in the second degree.
The Hindu
20-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Doctors successfully treat 32-year-old woman suffering from Spina Bifida
Doctors at Ankura Hospital, Hyderabad, performed a minimally invasive procedure on a 32-year-old woman suffering from Spina Bifida, a congenital condition that had caused severe bowel and bladder dysfunction since birth. The patient had previously undergone an Antegrade Continence Enema (ACE) surgery, which failed, leaving her reliant on manual enemas. Under the care of VVS Chandrasekharam and Parijat Ram Tripathi, a colonoscopic cecostomy technique was adopted. It involved placing a Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) tube into the cecum using colonoscopic guidance, avoiding traditional surgery. Within 24 hours, a saline flush led to spontaneous stool passage, a first for the patient. She experienced no pain and was discharged the next day, said a release.
Irish Times
26-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Hip surgeries: Parents call for independent review by international experts
Parents of children who received hip surgeries in two Dublin hospitals are calling for the establishment of a clinical independent review of surgeries by international experts, after an audit found almost 70 per cent of surgeries carried out at the healthcare facilities were not necessary. On Friday, the Health Service Executive (HSE) published an independent audit on hip surgery thresholds for children with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). It examined 147 cases across three hospitals – Temple Street , the National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh (NOHC) and Crumlin Hospital . In Temple Street, some 60 per cent of surgeries audited did not meet the clinical threshold for surgical intervention, with this proportion being 79 per cent in NOHC. Two advocacy groups – the scoliosis advocacy network and Spina Bifida and/or Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy Group – held a meeting with more than 70 affected parents on Sunday evening. READ MORE Notes from the meeting show families are unhappy with the HSE's plan to offer all families the opportunity to have their case reviewed by a specialist medical team, believing this will 'only delay meaningful review and support'. [ Hip surgery audit: Almost 70% of operations in two children's hospitals 'unnecessary' Opens in new window ] Parents expressed 'serious concern' about this proposed clinical review pathway because the clinicians who carried out the unnecessary surgeries were not named in the report. The families said they have 'no confidence' in a review process. Instead, the families have called for an independent clinical review of all DDH surgeries. 'This must be carried out by a panel of international paediatric orthopaedic experts, each with a minimum of 10 years' experience and qualifications equal to or exceeding those of Irish consultants,' the families said. 'A core group of parents will liaise directly with the relevant authorities to ensure the panel has the full confidence of families. The composition of the panel must be formally agreed with the parent group.' The two advocacy groups also reiterated their call for a full public inquiry into Children's Health Ireland (CHI), stating there was a specific need to examine 'the systemic governance failures that resulted in preventable harm to their children'. [ Hip surgery audit: How many more times will we hear 'this can never happen again'? Opens in new window ] 'This inquiry is not optional. Families will directly negotiate the terms of reference with the Minister for Health and will not accept any process that excludes their leadership, scrutiny and approval,' they said. Following the publication of Friday's report, Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill announced she has moved to 'strengthen governance and oversight' at CHI and NOHC. The Minister said this will be done by the appointment of two members of the HSE board to the board of CHI, strengthening the service level agreement between the two bodies and increasing involvement of the Dublin Midlands Region Regional Executive Officer. Further arrangements are also being considered in relation to this, Ms Carroll MacNeill said.
