My story... I was a thoroughly life-immersed, independent woman with a wonderful husband, family, home and career. I could land in a strange city overseas and happily navigate my way to my hotel on foot, wander the markets and streets and dine out alone, go to some business meetings and whizz back to London on The Eurostar. Despite being diagnosed in 2003 with an auto immune condition that affects the muscles, I had a pretty amazing life and little to complain about. I had a few crises where physical fatigue and muscle fatigue were severe but in general, the medication was working and I was managing the condition well enough. My Wellness Journey One day my life changed forever When my firstborn, Ethan was 13 months old I reacted to a vaccination that changed my life forever. I was hospitalized for three weeks, five days of which I was in ICU and on oxygen. An auto-immune response where the body attacks and demyelinates the peripheral nervous system, left me with no sensory feedback to the brain from feet, legs, hands and the face. I had to learn to sit again, write again, tie bows and laces again and still struggle with hand co-ordination and battle every day with many residual effects. I still regularly choke and battle to swallow and when I tire, my speech is affected. I had extensive rehabilitation physical therapy but despite my efforts and certain improvements, my leg nerves have not regenerated and I am still unable to walk unaided. I have residual sensory ataxia and can't retain balance in the dark or with my eyes closed. I went from a fiercely independent, capable woman, to a helpless baby. Slowly, slowly and sometimes negligibly, in tiny victories that most people take for granted daily, things have improved and ten years on I’m mostly at peace with the fact I can’t walk – I have my moments, believe me, but I’ve had time to read a lot, reflect, and accept. I’ve learnt patience, gratitude and fortitude. I’ve learnt about being grateful for so many small things that I may not have thought to acknowledge had I not gone through this "opportunity" to climb off the corporate steam train, and embark on a deeply personal journey of finding meaning and compassion and acceptance through my struggle. I'll always be a survivor. I don't quit. I haven’t given up on walking again, I never will give up. I’m always on the scout for new treatments and technologies that might repair my nerves enough to walk upright and free once again. With faith I hope, with love I am patient and with oils I endure. I believe anything is possible.