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I Didn't Plan On This

Author: Spinal Injuries Association

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Life can change in an instant — but that moment isn’t the end of the story.
 In this powerful new podcast series, we share the remarkable journeys of people whose lives were transformed by spinal cord injury*. 

Their world may have changed overnight, but their hopes, ambitions and sense of purpose didn’t disappear  in many cases, they grew stronger.

A spinal cord injury changes everything, yes.
 But it can also mark the beginning of an entirely new chapter.

Through honest conversations and inspiring personal stories, this series shows what’s possible when determination meets the right support. You’ll hear from individuals who refused to let circumstance define them  proving that life after injury is still full of opportunity, connection and meaning.

This is a celebration of resilience, reinvention and the undeniable truth that this new life is still for living — no matter what challenges lie ahead.


*Spinal cord injury affects approximately 105,000 people in the UK and in most cases is permanent and life changing, leading to a loss of mobility due to paralysis. Other effects include loss of bowel, bladder and sexual function, severe neuropathic pain and with certain high level spinal cord injuries, it can affect your breathing function.


Disclaimer: Any advice or opinions shared in this podcast are those of our guests and not the views of Spinal Injuries Association. Always seek professional advice from a suitably qualified healthcare professional. To find information on available support near you go to the Spinal Injuries Association- spinal.co.uk.

8 Episodes
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Two mums. Two spinal cord injuries. One honest conversation. For International Women’s Day, Zoe Fox and Dani Czernuszka‑Watts open up about motherhood, identity, resilience, and the moments no one talks about — but every woman needs to hear. In this powerful International Women’s Day special, host Zoe Fox sits down with her friend Dani Czernuszka‑Watts for a conversation about life, identity, and motherhood after spinal cord injury. Dani sustained a T10 spinal cord injury followin...
Hannah Cockroft & Nathan Maguire: The Power Couple of Paralympic Sport Eight‑time Paralympic gold medallist Hannah Cockroft and elite athlete Nathan Maguire are a sporting powerhouse, but behind the medals lies a story of teamwork, sacrifice and shared ambition. From competing together to getting engaged after Tokyo, then marrying shortly after Paris 2024, their journey is anything but ordinary. In this unfiltered conversation, they open up about success, frustration, rivalry, and the pre...
Jade and John Reynolds

Jade and John Reynolds

2026-02-1048:10

John & Jade Reynolds — Love, Laughter and Going Viral When John and Jade Reynolds went viral for their first‑date story — John carrying Jade up a flight of stairs when the cinema lift failed — many fell in love with them. Jade was paralysed at age 12 due to transverse myelitis, but her partnership with John shows what life looks like when love and humour lead the way. With two children and a thriving social following, they’ve built a community by sharing the reality and hilarity of their ...
Steve Brown, Becca & Baby Lyra: A Future They Fought For TV presenter and former wheelchair rugby captain Steve Brown credits his spinal cord injury for opening unexpected doors, from elite sport to mainstream television on Countryfile and Escape to the Country. But nothing tested him and his wife Becca like their IVF journey. In this intimate episode, they share the emotional highs and lows of trying to become parents — a path filled with uncertainty, hope and perseverance. Their story l...
Mohammed Belal & Elizabeth Penny: Redefining What’s Possible In 2021, surgeon Mohammed Belal was struck by a falling tree while cycling, resulting in a spinal cord injury. With the unwavering support of his wife Elizabeth, he returned to the operating theatre using a hydraulic standing wheelchair, becoming the first UK surgeon to operate after paralysis. Together as parents, partners and leaders in their community, Mo and Elizabeth share how faith, determination and perspective helped the...
David Holmes & Rosie Mayes: Love, Intimacy & Everyday Reality (Part Two) Contains some adult themes. In part two, David and Rosie go even deeper. From the practicalities to the emotional complexities, they speak with rare honesty about intimacy, partnership and the realities of building a life together with high‑level spinal cord injury. Their openness is refreshing, disarming and important — offering a perspective rarely heard but deeply needed. A brave, candid and funny conversatio...
David Holmes & Rosie Mayes: Finding Love After Life Changes (Part One) Former Harry Potter stuntman David Holmes had his world upended during a stunt test for the seventh film, resulting in a life‑changing spinal cord injury. Years later, he shared his journey with the world through the documentary David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived. But this episode tells a different story — how he found love again with Rosie Mayes, who sustained a similar injury in 2009. For the first time, David and Rosie...
Meet Gary and Zoe

Meet Gary and Zoe

2026-02-1036:23

Meet Zoe Fox and Gary Dawson, hosts of I Didn’t Plan on This. Both had their lives transformed in an instant by spinal cord injury, but neither allowed that moment to define their future. In this powerful kick off episode, Zoe and Gary talk openly about navigating trauma, rebuilding identity and finding strength in vulnerability. With honesty, humour and zero filters, they dive into the realities many shy away from, showing what’s possible when determination meets the right support. The journ...
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