August 28th 2024.
According to Lizzi, the best things in life often happen when we least expect them. This was certainly the case for her at the 2024 Para-Cycling Track World Championships in March. After crossing the finish line, her pilot Danni shouted with excitement, exclaiming that it was a gold medal-worthy performance. Lizzi couldn't believe it - they had just won their third world title of the competition! She was absolutely overjoyed and flooded with emotions.
As she reflected on the moment, Lizzi couldn't help but think back to all the challenges she had faced since a life-changing incident in 2017. It had left her blind and forced her to relearn basic tasks like sitting up and walking. Adapting to a life without vision was no easy feat, but in that moment of victory, Lizzi knew that it had all been worth it.
Lizzi was only 19 years old and in her second year of university when she contracted a rare form of E.coli. It was believed to be from food poisoning and caused her to experience multiple organ failure, collapsed lungs, and heart failure in a very short span of time. She was in a medically induced coma for eight weeks, so she has no memory of what happened during that time. She only knows what her parents and medical staff have told her.
There were moments when the doctors told her parents that she may not make it, and they had to say their goodbyes. But against all odds, Lizzi pulled through. However, when she finally woke up, she had completely lost her eyesight. It was a shock to everyone, including the doctors, who had been focused on keeping her alive. Losing her sight wasn't something they had anticipated.
Additionally, Lizzi was extremely weak and had to start from scratch. Her life as she knew it had ended. Horses had been her passion and her entire world. She was always at the stables, and she had planned for them to be a part of her future. But now, she couldn't walk or see, and she thought she would never ride again.
It took time for Lizzi to come to terms with her sight loss. As an independent person, she found it frustrating to need help with simple tasks. But she knew she had two options - she could either feel sorry for herself or try to achieve something she never thought possible, even with her eyesight. Lizzi chose the latter and turned to sports to help her through it. In a way, it saved her.
During her time at the hospital, the doctors and nurses at UCLH and St Barts Hospital made sure Lizzi got her "horse fix" to lift her spirits. They even managed to bring a horse up to the 13th floor in the goods lift and take it to her room. The sight of a horse in a hospital surprised another patient who had called the lift on their way up. It was a surreal and heartwarming experience that brought joy and a sense of home to Lizzi during a scary and difficult time.
Despite her initial assumption that she would never ride again, Lizzi was determined to get back in the saddle. With the help of her trusted horse, she was able to overcome her fear and ride again. She believes that good horse riding relies more on feel than sight, so she quickly got back into the swing of things without much direction.
After her successful return to horse-riding, Lizzi was ready for her next challenge. She discovered the world of Para-equestrian disciplines, including dressage, showjumping, and combined driving. She even started showjumping again, proving that nothing could stop her from pursuing her passion. In the end, Lizzi's story is one of resilience, determination, and the power of sport to heal and overcome adversity.
Lizzi, a para-cyclist, knows firsthand that sometimes the best things in life happen when you least expect them. She vividly remembers the exhilaration she felt as her pilot Danni shouted to her, "It's gold!", crossing the finish line at the 2024 Para-Cycling Track World Championships back in March. It was their third world title of the competition, and Lizzi couldn't believe it. She was overjoyed and couldn't help but think back to all the challenges she had faced since a life-changing incident left her blind in 2017. Despite the struggles, this moment made it all feel worth it.
At the young age of 19, Lizzi was starting her second year of university when she contracted a rare form of E.coli, most likely from food poisoning. This led to multiple organ failure, collapsed lungs, and heart failure in a short amount of time. She was placed in a medically induced coma for eight weeks, and she has no memory of what happened during that time. She only knows what her parents and medical staff have told her.
The doctors had warned Lizzi's parents that she may not survive, and they had to say goodbye to her multiple times. Thankfully, she pulled through. However, when she woke up, she had completely lost her eyesight. It was a shock to everyone, as the medical team had been focused on keeping her alive and functioning, and losing her sight was the last thing they had expected.
Lizzi was also very weak, unable to sit up or walk. She had to start from scratch, and her life as she knew it had ended. Before her illness, Lizzi was a horse-mad teenager, spending all her free time at the stables. Horses were her hobby, her sport, her passion, and her social life. She had always planned for them to be a part of her future. But now, with her inability to walk or see, she thought she would never ride again.
It took time for Lizzi to come to terms with her sight loss. As someone who valued her independence, needing help with even the simplest tasks was frustrating. But she realized that she had two options: sit around feeling sorry for herself, or try to achieve something even she couldn't have done with her eyesight. She chose the latter and turned to sports to help her through this difficult time. And, as clichéd as it may sound, it was a saving grace for her.
During her time at the UCLH and St Barts Hospital, Lizzi's doctors and nurses made sure she got her horse fix to lift her spirits. They even managed to get a horse up to the 13th floor of the hospital in the goods lift, just to bring him to her in one of the rooms. It was a surreal experience, and amidst the fear and sadness, it was a moment of joy and a reminder of home.
Despite her initial belief that she would never ride again, Lizzi proved herself wrong. She may have lost her sight, but not her skill. In fact, it was Lizzi who suggested getting back on a horse. She was determined to ride again and returned to the horse she had always ridden. Though it was daunting and different, Lizzi believes that good horse riding relies more on feel than sight. It didn't take her long to get back into the swing of things, even without much direction.
After conquering her fear and returning to horse-riding, Lizzi was ready for her next challenge. She discovered the world of Para-equestrian disciplines, including dressage, showjumping, and combined driving, and even started showjumping again. Despite the challenges she faced, Lizzi's passion for horses and her determination to not let her blindness hold her back pushed her to achieve things she never thought possible. And, as she looks back on her journey, Lizzi knows that sometimes the best things in life really do happen when you least expect them.
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