"My 5 week stay in Treliske in October 2006"

I have only just found this site, so only now can post my story.

I was admitted to casualty paralyzed from the neck down, after waking one morning. The staff there were amazing, very caring. Casualty was so busy, I had to stay in the corridor for a while, but they were so kind to me.

I was on MAU for about 5 days and the care was brilliant there too, I obviously had to have everything done for me, and was really cared for.

The following 2 weeks, I was on another ward before being moved to the neurology ward, Polgooth. The care I received on Polgooth was rubbish; I felt I was treated like a second class citizen. Most of the nurses caring for me weren't very nice either, and I hated every second of it. No TV by the bed, none in the ward either, it was 2 weeks of hell.

I now have the use of my arms back, but unable to walk. I had to have emergency surgery in Bristol on my spinal cord. I was diagnosed with tethered spinal cord; it’s a complication of spina bifida. My bladder had already failed 3 years before.

I had surgery in Frenchay, Bristol and was on ward 1 of the neurosurgery ward. I was there for just over 3 weeks. I cannot praise the staff highly enough. 10/10. Caring, professional, lovely. Unfortunately, my bladder could not be repaired and I now use a wheelchair full-time, but the surgery saved my life, as my cord would have snapped if I hadn't have had surgery.