Girl who learned to walk again left paralysed after motorway smash
A TEENAGER who miraculously learned to walk again after battling a rare neurological disorder has been left paralysed AGAIN after being hit by driver picking up popcorn – the day she was discharged from physio.
Sports-mad Jade Almond, 16, was originally hospitalised after hitting her head when falling back off a chair in July last year. She was left unable to walk, concentrate properly and suffering with uncontrollable shakes.
Doctors diagnosed the youngster with functional neurological disorder that left the former Wigan Athletic Ladies youth team goalkeeper needing intensive privately-funded physio.
After seven months of £14,500 crowd-funded physio, the teen was delighted to be able to walk, run and dance and was discharged on February 21. But in a cruel twist of fate, Jade, along with mum Michelle Almond, sister Josie and two pals, were hit by another car on the M60 on their way home that day.
They claim the female driver was leaning over and trying to pick up popcorn from the car floor when she ploughed into them. The impact of the crash has left Jade bed bound with ‘the strength of a newborn baby,’ partially paralysed and unable to sit up unaided.
Jade, from Abram, in Wigan, said: “It’s heartbreaking being in this position and knowing all that hard work has been undone. I was pretty much back to normal – able to run, dance and play football again – I was 80 per cent there and only had a bit of a tremor in my leg.
“After the car crash it’s worse than it’s ever been as now its affecting my whole body.”
Footage from the day of the accident shows Jade excitedly running up stairs for the first time in seven months marking the end of her treatment.
But during the drive home a car crashed into the back of them – the force of the impact causing Jade to bang her head twice as she was knocked about the vehicle.
Jade realised there was a problem when was unable to move her right arm to comfort her friend and her legs gave way as she tried to get out of the car.
Jade said: “I first noticed that the back of my friend’s head was bleeding. I went to hug her because she was so upset and my hand wouldn’t move, I was so confused.
“You couldn’t make it up that on the day I left physio this happened.”
Footage filmed since the accident shows how Jade is unable to sit up unaided and is forced to rely on mum Michelle to prop her up.
The family have spent £14,500 on Jade’s original treatment and are now fundraising the cost of further treatment needed after the crash. Mum Michelle, 41, said: “[On the day of the crash] traffic had gone to a complete standstill. The woman behind me was apparently picking up popcorn off the floor and careered into the back of us at what felt like 30-40mph. Jade was in the back and had direct impact, it was awful.”