Student's 'life-changing' seizure led to paralysis

Libby Watts-Martin was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder in 2023

A student says her "whole life changed overnight" after having a seizure while out with her friends, leading to her becoming paralysed from the waist down.

Libby Watts-Martin, 21, from Bristol, was at university in Plymouth in 2023 when she had a serious seizure and was soon after diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) .

The condition affects the way the brain and nervous system work and is one that health officials still have a "limited understanding" of, even though research into it is growing.

Ms Watts-Martin is now trying to raise awareness of the illness and funds for equipment to help her stand again "one day" by doing a marathon in her wheelchair.

"It was a very big change and a lot to deal with - my life pretty much changed overnight," she said.

"There's limited understanding of the condition and there's often this phrase used to describe it that says, 'it's not a hardware problem it's more of a software problem'."

Ms Watts-Martin said her life "pretty much changed overnight" after her seizure

Health officials describe FND as a variable disorder that could be considered rare, but the exact number of people with it is unknown.

People with the disorder can have many symptoms that can vary from person to person - things such as functional seizures, limb weakness, tics and cognitive problems with dissociative and sensory issues.

Ms Watts-Martin is raising money for a standing chair that she hopes will help her walk again

Ms Watts-Martin said she was "heartbroken" after she was unable to continue with her course, but was supported by her family in Bristol.

"My family were amazing," she said.

"The health support that's available is slim to nothing. I ended up going private with Plymouth Neurophysio."

She has since moved to Plymouth Marjon University where she has found "joy" in wheelchair basketball and connected with a "supportive" community of wheelchair users.

Ms Watts-Martin aims to raise £2,000 by doing a marathon in her wheelchair throughout August.

The funds will go towards a new standing chair that will hopefully help her to "walk again one day ".

"I'll do bits of it in Plymouth, Bristol and anywhere else I can," she added.

Her challenge starts on 1 August and will continue until the end of the month.