Three Years Bedridden. The Dream That Saved Me | A Teen’s FND Story | by Liam Virgo | Inspiring Story #216

Even when everything is taken from you.  Your voice. Your freedom. Your confidence. You must hold on to hope. At just 12 years old, I became trapped inside a body that wouldn’t work, in a world that didn’t understand.

It’s been a long, hard battle. Painful, isolating, and filled with moments of relearning things my body used to take for granted. My story is about overcoming illness, defying the odds, and never giving up. This is my journey. 

The First Signs of FND

Before FND I was a happy and healthy kid.  I enjoyed going to school and was a massive Doctor Who fan. My world changed when I was 12.  That’s when I first noticed strange symptoms. I started forgetting things and found it harder to concentrate. I lost strength in my hands and felt unsteady on my feet.  Then things rapidly deteriorated. 

My speech went. I couldn’t use my hands. I became incontinent and needed support to walk.  I didn’t know what was happening around me. My mind was just blank. Eventually, it was no longer safe for me to attend school.  

When My Body Gave Up

My condition took a turn for the worse and I couldn’t walk. It was like something inside me switched off. 

I was rushed to hospital and spent four months on a children’s neurological ward. Doctors were baffled. They filmed me for medical research for universities around the world. I had so many scans, tests and other medical procedures.  But everything came back normal. All I remember is faces and bright lights.

Eventually, I was diagnosed with FND. After months in hospital, I was discharged. Doctors said nothing more could be done. A few weeks later, I couldn’t even sit up.  My body became stiff. My hands clenched, feet turned inwards, and I couldn’t tolerate shoes or physio. Even the wheelchair didn’t work for me anymore.

I became completely bedridden for three years. I couldn’t move or speak. I felt trapped inside my body and mind. I needed 24-hour care.

Holding Hope Through the Hardest Days

I missed school, my friends, parties and playdates.  Everything was happening around me, but I wasn’t part of it. Each day felt the same. I just lay there, lonely, stuck in silence.

That’s when two things became really important to me:  London and ITV’s Loose Women. London was a symbol of everything I longed for like fun, freedom and independence.  And I liked the topics on Loose Women -  the news, conversation, guests and presenters. It was one of my only connections to the outside world, so I formed a special bond with the show. 

CAMHS created London and Loose Women themed progress charts and maps to help me track goals and stay motivated. They made London and Loose Women feel close, even when they were far away.

Even though I wasn’t well enough to go anywhere, I still dreamed of visiting London and meeting the Loose Women presenters one day.  It seemed impossible at the time, but I wouldn’t give up hope. 

Slow Steps Toward Recovery

Slowly, things began to change. I started to speak again with help from speech and language therapy. At first, just a few words.  Then I became a selective mute, only able to speak to close family members. Eventually, my voice returned and I could speak to everyone again. I was no longer incontinent, and my brain function improved.

I still wasn’t well enough to return to school, so I was home tutored by Simply Sensory. We did sensory sessions, rehab tasks and fun activities together.

I learned to move my arms again. My body felt less stiff. After three years, I sat up again.  First with help. The first time I used a wheelchair again, I felt so free. After being housebound for so long, it was amazing to be outside. My mum wheeled me out onto the pavement. I felt the breeze on my face for the first time in years. It was just the hospital to collect my new wheelchair, but to me, it felt like a whole new world.

A Big Milestone.  A Big Vision

I managed a few trips out and about, and finally I visited London.  That was a huge moment. I’ve been back many times since, and London is a big part of my recovery journey.

The Loose Women team also heard about my story. They sent me a video message, and a few months later, I met some of them in person. Since then, I’ve met 15 Loose Women!

Where I Am Now

Nine years on, I’m still recovering and learning to walk again. Even though it feels like I’ve had FND forever, I haven’t, and I know I can learn to live with it.  

I still have difficult days, and doctors aren’t sure if I’ll ever fully recover. But I can use my arms, sit up and stand independently and walk with support. I never take my body for granted, and I’ve never given up hope.

My Message of Hope and Empathy

To anyone reading this - thank you. Telling my story in my own words is something I never thought I’d be able to do.

If you’re living with FND, or caring for someone who is. Please don’t give up hope. Even when progress is slow or invisible, it matters. You are not alone.  

To those not affected by this condition, FND may not be visible, but it’s real. There were times when my symptoms weren’t believed or understood, and that made me feel frustrated. That’s why raising awareness is so important.

Please listen, believe, be patient and have empathy for those going through it. 

There’s light at the end of the tunnel. FND turned my world upside down, but if I can get through all that, I know I can get through anything.  And you can find your way through too.