The Physio session:

Sam's POV

I felt like I was sitting there for ages watching everyone but me be called in.

I heard someone say my name, she looked about 20-25, and she made me feel old. She introduced herself as Emma, she looked like she had a bubbly personality and loves her job, I just hope some of her positivity could rub off on me.

I carefully stood up and started walking towards her, I felt my legs tingle and I grabbed onto the wall for support. I was panicking … this has only ever happened once before, I didn't know what to do. I knew I was going to hit the floor, then I felt Emma grab my arm. It brought a weird sensation, like a weight was being lifted off my shoulders. It kind of felt like someone finally understood after all this time feeling alone there was support out there someone who could help me return to normality or whatever the new normal is going to be.

Everyone was staring at me, I wanted to be swallowed up and taken away from this embarrassment. I hated being the centre of attention, Emma helped me to sit in a wheelchair and wheeled into one of the small treatment rooms. She wasn't patronising and was very honest with me that until I got my condition under control this is very likely to happen again.

Asked if I have a loan chair with me, to which I said it in the boot of my car in the main car park. She sent Matt a free Physio to fetch it as my custom chair had arrived. Emma told me to stay where I was, and she would be back in a minute.

After a short wait she returned with a slightly smaller chair than the one I've been lent, it had a metallic blue frame and a gel air seat. It was made to measure for my body and fit me like a glove. After some minor adjustments I was comfortably seated in my chair.

Emma placed a foam mat on the floor in front of me and helped me to slide down onto it, I was taught where is best to place my chair and how best to position myself. It didn't take me long to master getting in and out, I am a quick learner after all.

After mastered the basics of getting in and out, I slowly wheeled myself into the gym with Emma guiding me at my side. We started with the weights, as core and arm strength are vital. After about 20 mins we headed over to the bars, these were to test how much my legs were functioning and my balance.

I hoisted myself up using the bars and slowly put more weight on my legs, Some sensation had come back but not enough to be able to solely hold my weight as I was still relying on the bar quite a lot for support

As I sat back in my Chair, I looked at Emma and said, What am I going to do I have a shift in an hour, if I can't walk I can't treat my patients. I was getting upset so Emma took control of the situation and wheeled me back into the room. She said I could get away with just my crutches for today but I would need to use my chair whenever I could to take the strain of my weight off my arms.

My custom leg braces had not yet arrived but would you the next few weeks, and as soon as they were here we were going to spend some time working with them and seen how much independence I could get back with that extra bit of support on my legs.

She said she was going to get some information about something for me sorted for Thursday that she thinks would help, and to keep my head high stay confident and just do what you're comfortable with, take it nice and slowly there is no point rushing.

Just as I was leaving the room it dawned on me that I would not be able to drive round to the ED, so I asked Emma if she knew someone who could drive me round until I had the chance to get hand controls fitted into my car.

She said she would do it for me and helped me to my car in my chair, she can help me transfer onto the passenger seat and put my chair on the back set before passing my crutches forward from the boot.

She drove round and parked in my spot and helping me out of the car and making sure I was steady on my feet before we said our goodbyes and I slowly made my way towards the entrance on my crutches.