Bethany’s Story

Bethany is a writer, poet and disability activist from Monmouthshire. She grew up hiking and surfing and has always been really active and outdoorsy. She has lived with chronic illnesses since she was in her late teens and became an ambulatory wheelchair user three years ago as a result. However, following an illness in April 2023, Bethany became a full-time wheelchair user.

The exoskeleton allowed Bethany to experience walking and hugging her mum from standing for the first time in 15 months. The exoskeleton will help to improve Bethany’s circulation and to protect her bone density. It may also be able to help her learn to walk again.

Bethany says, ‘I love my wheelchair and the freedom it enables but I have missed being able to stride down a corridor into a room. This exoskeleton gave me that freedom: to stride down a corridor as I would have done before becoming a wheelchair user, seeing my legs moving so naturally and being able to hug my mum from standing. This equipment doesn’t just bring me strength and joy though, it might help me relearn to walk.’

‘I know that each time I use the exoskeleton I might be one step closer to walking again. It shows me what recovery could look like. I just wish every full-time wheelchair user, everyone who has to learn to walk again or has lost the ability to walk, could have access to the ExoMotus.’

Watch Bethany’s story below:

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