The day I met a real life heroine - Marrianne Rooprai

Sometimes you meet people who truly inspire you, in fact they truly inspire everyone that they meet. At a summer ball I went to recently I was lucky enough to meet a woman who is truly coragious and showed more strength than I have ever known. Her name is Marrianne Rooprai.

On June 12th 2004, Marianne's life would change for ever. After attending a friend's wedding she was involved in a devastating car accident which left her in intensive care, she had a broken neck and was fighting for her life. Initial diagnosis made her friends and family fear that she would be paralysed from the neck down forever but they were determined not to just accept it. The fight was on. At first it was just the family fighting for her, but when she could, Marianne determinedly took over.

Marianne was moved to a spinal unit in Sheffield and suffered some scary dips in her health. However, Marrianne's tenacity began to show as she started to battle the physical minefields ahead.

Every step of the way she was suprising the doctors by reaching milestones ahead of time.

At the beginning of August she was able to breathe without the help of a ventilator and 9 days later her traction (which was keeping her body completely still with the use of weights) was taken off over a month ahead of the inital schedule. She was fighting back.

The boundaries didn't stop being smashed and as soon as she could Marianne was in the physio gym where she spent as much time there as she could till she left hospital. It was with all this hardwork her medical team could see a small amount of movement in her right arm - which blows the smoke out of being told you would be paralysed from the neck down. This is only the beginning.

From this point that Marianne started to "blaze her own trail" in the SCI (spinal cord injury) world. She and long term partner, Andy,  would listen to advice given but essentially make decisons for themselves about the best route to take.

They were not under the illusion that some miracle cure was going to come along but through hard work physically and psychologically they would ensure that Marrianne would be ready if and when any new developments in research were to come along. Marrianne's goal is to one day walk again.

In 2005 Andy made the decision that they should set up the Rooprai Spinal Trust. He wanted to start a trust that would give Marrianne every possibility to become mobile, but also explore all the types of rehabilitation available to anyone with SCI and the progress that could be made with it. They wanted to break boundaries that were currently in place and that is exactly what Marrianne has done. She inspires people all over the world with what she has achieved.

The couple say that they found the greatest team of physios at Prime Physio and they are motivated and driven. This means that they will accept that progress can be made by everyone given the right amount of time. The work they do with Marrianne every week (she goes there twice a week for 2 hours each session) has enabled her to use an ESKO walking machine which has allowed Marrianne to experience the outdoors on her feet. Something we take for granted is walking outside in the sunshine, I can't imagine having that taken away. Seeing how magical it is for Marrianne to be able to feel the freedom again will make me feel grateful for the little things.

Andy and Marrianne also make an annual visit to Miami, to go to The Miami Jewish Home and Hospital (The MJHH). It is home to the laboratories of The Brucker Biofeedback Team - devised after a lifetime of study by the late Professor Bernard Brucker. In short what they do is try to improve and identify weak connections between the brain and the muscle to try and gain more movement. They have very sophisticated machinery that will measure neurological connection between the two.

Through the work that Professor Brucker has done it has been shown that the body can repair itself years after injury. The amount of repair may be tiny but tiny can mean a great deal with SCI. Marrianne's annual trips are a great boost from the other 12 months of 'rehab' and show her how she coming along.

Along side this the couple have equipment which is used daily at home. Andy and Marrianne work together and use techniques they have learnt. They do have a fair amount of equipment now but it has taken them a long time to build it up. They tell people thats it is not just by spending huge amounts that they will get results. Its  is about believing and putting in the effort that will make the difference. I think it very clear that Marrianne has done exactly that.

Meeting Marrianne and Andy was such an honour for me. Not only are they a fantastic couple who obviously deeply loved each other but they also have a fantastic understanding between them. Life hasn't taken the course they had planned but they are now making it their own.

I danced with Marrianne, I drank prosecco with Marrianne and her personalilty and smile are captivating. I can understand how much she must inspire so many, especially people who have had similar injuries to herself. To be told that you won't be able to do something again and to fight against that is the epitome of bravery.

I have the hugest amount of respect for this woman and I am sure I am not the only one who believes that she will one day walk again.

If you would like to support the Rooprai Spinal Trust or read more about Marrianne's amazing story then please have look at their website and you can also find them on Facebook and Instagram.

Written by Jo Johnson (All The Family)
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