Scots teen defies 'never walk again' warning after rare condition

Theatre stage symbolises the inspiring journey back to performance after recovery (Illustrative image - AI generated) Upday Stock Images

A 14-year-old Scottish performer has defied doctors' expectations and returned to the professional stage just nine months after waking up paralysed from a rare spinal condition. Jessie-Lou Harvie from Blantyre was told she might never walk again when diagnosed with transverse myelitis in March 2024.

On February 10, 2024, Jessie-Lou woke up feeling weak in her legs and tried to walk to the bathroom. Within half an hour, she became completely paralysed from the chest down and couldn't move at all.

Her parents rushed her to accident and emergency, where she was immediately transferred to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow. Doctors delivered devastating news to her mother Nicola, 46, that her "healthy" daughter might never walk again.

One-in-a-million condition

After weeks of tests and consultation with Great Ormond Street Hospital, Jessie-Lou was diagnosed with transverse myelitis - a rare neurological condition causing spinal cord inflammation. According to the National Institutes of Health, the condition affects just one to eight people per million.

The Brain & Spine Foundation reports that only about one-third of transverse myelitis patients achieve full recovery, with approximately 300 new cases occurring annually in the UK. The diagnosis was particularly devastating for the family, as it had taken six to seven years of IVF treatment for parents Nicola and Tony to have Jessie-Lou.

Jessie-Lou had already built an impressive performing career, with credits including the UK tour of Les Miserables, A Midsummer Night's Dream with Scottish Opera, and Charlie & the Chocolate Factory. She spent 12 weeks in Glasgow hospital, mainly confined to her room except for physio sessions.

Specialist rehabilitation breakthrough

Nicola pushed for a referral to Stoke Mandeville Hospital's National Spinal Injuries Centre in May 2024, believing the specialist facility was right for treating both the neurological and spinal cord injury aspects. At Stoke Mandeville, Jessie-Lou met other children with similar conditions and participated in up to four hours of daily activities.

The rehabilitation included wheelchair sports, physio sessions on specially adapted equipment, and functional electronic stimulation. Music therapy sessions in Horatio's Garden became particularly meaningful, where Jessie-Lou sang empowering songs like Whitney Houston's The Greatest Love of All and Miley Cyrus' The Climb.

Nicola's professional role as a trauma lead for education created additional emotional complexity, as she found it difficult when "the tables were turned in the worst way" and she needed support rather than providing it. The support from other parents in similar situations proved invaluable.

Remarkable stage return

Jessie-Lou was discharged home in June 2024 and gradually returned to school, initially part-time in August before resuming full-time education in October. Despite continuing challenges with foot drop, right-side weakness, and a limp, she can now walk independently.

In November 2024, she successfully auditioned for and performed in the world premiere of Wild Rose at Edinburgh's Lyceum Theatre. "Seeing her back on the stage professionally made me think the industry still has room for her," said Nicola.

Before leaving Stoke Mandeville, Jessie-Lou sang "For Good" from Wicked for the nursing staff with music therapist Amanda - the emotional performance left all the nurses in tears. The moment was particularly poignant given her dream of one day playing Elphaba in Wicked.

Ongoing support and future hopes

The family has received partial funding from Spinal Injuries Scotland for a £6,000 Bioness L300 Go device, which uses electrical stimulation to help with mobility issues from nerve or spinal cord injuries. The device should improve her foot drop condition when fitted this month.

Jessie-Lou will continue annual week-long check-ups at Stoke Mandeville until age 19. Despite her ongoing challenges, she remains determined to pursue her performing dreams and hopes to play Elphaba in Wicked one day.

"Don't give up," she advises others facing recovery challenges. "Do your exercises, do your physio, because that's the thing that will help the most out of all of it."

Sources used: "PA Media", "Daily Record", "Independent", "Manchester Evening News", "Glasgow Live"

Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.