Stubbornly Vertical

Get Hit Hard, Get Up Harder: Lessons from Rocky

Sometimes motivation doesn’t come from discipline: it comes from something that hits you at the right moment. For me, it was Rocky Balboa! Not just the story, but the music behind it; the energy, the build, the feeling. In this episode, I talk about how that combination helped me reset, refocus, and start moving forward again.

The Last Week Could Have Been Worse... (I Could Have Lost All My Teeth!)

After a difficult consultant appointment, I found myself slipping into a place I don’t often go: fear, doubt, and a spiral of “what ifs.” It’s something many of us face, but rarely talk about openly. In this episode, I share what that felt like, what pulled me out of it, and the small but powerful moments of hope I found along the way; from unexpected wins to taking literal steps forward on the beach. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, scared about the future, or stuck in your own head… this one’s for you. Support mentioned in this episode: The Wren Project offers free, one-to-one and group listening support for people living with autoimmune diseases across the UK. Their service is remote, confidential, and designed to help reduce feelings of loneliness, grief, and isolation following a diagnosis.  They provide a safe space to talk openly with trained volunteers — not advice, just genuine human support when it’s needed most.  Find out more or apply for support here: https://www.wrenproject.org [https://www.wrenproject.org/]

The Consultant and the Optimist

My first consultant appointment after hospital and rehab, armed with questions, cautious optimism, and a hopeful outlook that may or may not survive contact with reality. We talk progress, CK levels that refuse to behave, the realities of long-term treatment, and why optimism still feels like a sensible strategy. Also featuring: returning the four-wheel walker, kind rehab faces, and the unexpected discovery that post-hospital cake tolerance is apparently limited.

Ten Weeks in Hospital: Losing Control, Finding Strength

A sudden diagnosis of myositis left me unable to walk, lift my arms, or even eat and drink, safely! And facing ten weeks in hospital that changed everything in my life! In this honest and deeply personal episode, I share the reality (to me) behind the word “hospital”: the loss of independence, the unexpected moments of hope, and the determination it took to walk again out of rehab just four weeks after getting there. This is a chapter about vulnerability, resilience, and the people who helped me rebuild when life stopped me in my tracks.

A thought: You may agree or not, but I will share it anyway!

Welcome to the extra episode of Stubbornly Vertical: “A thought… You may agree or not, but I will share it anyway!”. A short and honest reflection, on how the disease may shape our daily routines, challenge our strength, and test our patience, but it does not own our identity, our ambitions, or our sense of purpose.  So here is a thought… you may agree or not, but I will share it anyway!