'I went into hospital for four days and came out two years later'

 

Megan Dixon

Megan Dixon had to adapt her life after she was diagnosed

Megan Dixon was 13 years old when she started feeling unwell.

By 16, her health had deteriorated to such an extent that she was taken to hospital after losing the ability to speak. Doctors believed she may have had a stroke.

She had only been due to remain there for four days for tests, but came out two years later completely paralysed. Unable to walk, talk or open her eyes, she was told she would never move again.

Megan was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), which meant there was a problem with how her brain received and sent information to the rest of the body.

Having stayed in a neurological care home in Peterborough, she is now preparing to move into her own home with the hope of becoming a nail technician

Megan Dixon

Megan was told she would never be able to move again after becoming unwell at the age of 13

Megan said at the age of 18, when she moved to Eagle Wood Neurological Care Centre, she was "still just a baby".

She had never been on her own before and had to move away from her family near Bath to receive the care she needed.

"It was not easy. I think it was a lot harder for my mum and dad to have to leave me there on my own, but I couldn't do anything for myself. I was paralysed from the neck down," she told the BBC.

"I couldn't see, I couldn't talk. I hate the word, but I was very vulnerable at the time.

"I started feeling poorly when I was 13. It started off very slowly, very gradually and then in 2021, things just declined rapidly.

"I was taken into hospital because they were concerned I had had a stroke, or something, because I lost the ability to talk.

"I was taken for four days of tests and came out of hospital two years later."