The surgery wasn’t simple. Due to complications, I ended up with a lung infection and had to have a blood transfusion. I lost all feeling down the left-hand side of the arm that got infected as well.

When I finally came home, I was weak. I couldn’t walk, and I was in a wheelchair for a few weeks. I had to learn to walk again: my balance was gone, my legs had nothing in them. It was the strangest feeling when all I’ve done my whole life is walk.

I had to gradually build up the strength to be able to get out of the chair. I slowly set myself goals, like walking to the lamppost nearest to my house each day, and then to the next one. Eventually, I managed a 2km loop from my house, which felt like such a massive achievement.

That was about seven months ago, and I’ve only got stronger since then. They say it takes about 12 months post-surgery for a full recovery.

I’ve had other goals during my recovery, too. I couldn’t drive for a couple of months, but I wanted to be able to take my kids to school for their first day back last September, and I managed that. It felt a bit strange, especially steering; moving the wheel felt so heavy. If I don’t do it now, I thought, I’m never going to do it.

Recovery can feel quite lonely, even if you’ve got lots of support. Since July, I’ve gradually had fewer bad days and more good ones, but even now, there are days when it consumes me, and I end up in quite a dark place, mentally. I try not to focus on the negatives, but it’s a massive rollercoaster. However, I always feel that walking and getting out in nature really helps my mental health.

Now I’m just waiting for my appointment with my surgeon to take a look at my latest MRI scan. “Will I ever be able to run again?” I asked him. “Let’s have that conversation at six, seven months,” he said. I’ve got everything crossed that he’s going to tell me I can run, even if I can only jog.

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