Jade Almond’s Recovery Was Cut Short by a Devastating Car Crash
For seven months, Jade Almond fought through one of the toughest battles of her life. After losing the ability to walk because of a rare neurological condition, the teenager from Wigan, England, finally celebrated an emotional recovery—only for a devastating car crash just hours later to undo much of her hard-earned progress.
A Life-Changing Diagnosis
In July 2018, 16-year-old Jade Almond suffered a blow to the head while taking part in a Duke of Edinburgh Award expedition. In the weeks that followed, she developed Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), a condition in which the brain has difficulty sending and receiving signals properly, causing neurological symptoms without structural damage to the nervous system.
As her condition worsened, Jade lost the ability to walk, struggled to control her right arm, and experienced frequent collapses. Once an active goalkeeper for Wigan Athletic Ladies, she suddenly found herself confined to a wheelchair.
Seven Months of Intensive Rehabilitation
Determined to regain her independence, Jade’s family raised more than £14,500 to fund specialist rehabilitation at the STEPS Rehabilitation Centre in Sheffield.
After seven months of intensive physiotherapy and rehabilitation, Jade achieved what once seemed impossible. She was able to walk and even run again, with videos capturing her climbing stairs independently for the first time in nearly eight months.
It marked an emotional milestone after months of relentless determination and hard work.
Tragedy Strikes Again
The celebration was heartbreakingly short-lived.
On the journey home from her final rehabilitation session, the car carrying Jade was involved in a serious collision on the M60 motorway after another vehicle crashed into the rear of it.
The impact caused another head injury, reversing much of the progress she had made during months of rehabilitation. Jade later described the experience as devastating, saying it felt as though months of hard work had disappeared in a single moment.
Starting the Recovery All Over Again
Following the crash, Jade returned to the STEPS Rehabilitation Centre for another round of intensive therapy, including hydrotherapy and exercises designed to rebuild her strength and coordination.
Her mother, Michelle, remained optimistic despite the setback, explaining that while recovery would take time, the family’s goal was to ensure Jade recovered as fully as possible.
Jade’s remarkable determination has inspired many people, highlighting both the challenges faced by those living with Functional Neurological Disorder and the resilience required to overcome repeated setbacks.
Stories like Jade Almond’s remind us that recovery is not always a straight path, and extraordinary resilience can be found even after devastating setbacks.
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