Ten years ago, Louise Laurie couldn't even sit up and had to learn to walk again.
She had just undergone surgery to overcome her scoliosis, a condition which means that most of her vertebrae were fused together, causing pain, mobility issues, and curvature of the spine.
Now, ten years on, Louise is set to mark the anniversary in style by completing the Manchester Marathon on April 5.
After the surgery in 2010, Louise has overcome enormous odds to ready herself for this challenge.
She said: “Following my surgery, it took me over a year to fully recover and I had to learn the basics again such as walking and getting out of bed.
“It was a very painful and long recovery.
"I couldn't even sit up or get in the shower by myself for some time.”
Not content with merely running a marathon, Louise is also undertaking a ten day trek to Machu Picchu in October.
This will involve hiking for eight hours a day through difficult terrain, at altitudes of up to 4600m above sea level, where the air is very thin and difficult to breathe.
Louise said: “My aim with these challenges is to push myself and inspire others with scoliosis but also to raise awareness of the condition, as although very common, it is still relatively unknown.”
Since having the surgery, Louise says her quality of life has improved dramatically.
Whilst neither of these feats will be easy, Louise’s determination and strength have already carried her a long way since her operation.
She expanded: “Going through something like this makes you really appreciate life and I still find it hard to believe all the things I can do now, it's truly amazing what the human body is capable of.”
So far, Louise’s marathon ambitions have raised over £350 for the Scoliosis Campaign Fund, but that’s not enough, as she wants to raise ten times that.
You can donate to Louise's fundraiser here .
