Liam Virgo

I have been battling Functional Neurological Disorder, also known as FND, since 2016. My symptoms first started when I was 12, but then rapidly deteriorated to the point where I had all my abilities taken away from me. My cognitive skills deteriorated. I couldn’t use my hands, I was incontinent, unable to communicate, unable to walk, and my mind was just blank—I didn’t know what was happening around me. I was left suddenly paralyzed and unable to talk.

​

I was rushed to the hospital, where I spent many months in a children’s neurological ward. At first, doctors were baffled by my mystery illness. They filmed my case for medical research for universities around the world. I had so many scans, tests, and other medical procedures, but everything came back normal.

​

During this time, I was doing very poorly in the hospital. I struggle to remember my time there, but what I can remember are faces and bright lights. I was eventually diagnosed with FND. After months in the hospital, I was discharged, as there was nothing more that could be done there.

​

A few weeks after being discharged, my condition unfortunately deteriorated, and I was unable to sit up. I was given a specialist wheelchair, but that didn’t last long due to my deteriorating posture. It got to the stage where my body couldn’t tolerate sitting in any form of equipment apart from my hospital bed.

​

I was unable to sit up at all—my head was on my knees. My body couldn’t tolerate physio, I felt really stiff and was also diagnosed with Catatonia. Because I was unable to sit up or tolerate any form of equipment, I was then bedridden. I was bed bound for three years. I felt trapped inside my own body. I was unable to move any part of my body, I couldn’t do anything for myself. For one year, I was non-verbal until I slowly started to learn how to talk again. I was also seen by a specialist team from Great Ormond Street.

​

When I was doing poorly, I formed a special bond with two things—London and ITV’s Loose Women. By this stage, I was slowly starting to talk, and my brain function had improved. It was my dream to visit London and to meet the Loose Women, but due to my FND, I wasn’t well enough to go. CAMHS, who supported me between 2016 and 2020, made me London and Loose Women-themed progress charts, maps, and timelines to help motivate me. Eventually, in 2019, I slowly learned to move my arms again, and my body didn’t feel so stiff anymore.

​

Finally, after three long years, my FND symptoms started to improve. I slowly learned to sit up again. I was then offered a wheelchair and managed to do a few trips out and about. I achieved my wish of visiting London. It felt amazing being back in the outside world after three years of being housebound.

​

Then, just as I was getting out again, COVID struck—I was stuck indoors again! But that was nothing new to me. I was unable to leave home for four months due to COVID.

​

A few years later, the Loose Women heard about my story and sent me a video message. Then, I achieved my dream and met some of them. In recent years, I’ve been to my favorite place, London, many times and met 15 Loose Women. They have been part of my rehabilitation.

​

Nine years on from my life-changing illness, I’m slowly starting to recover and learning to walk again. I was unable to walk for five years, but I’m now able to stand again and walk with support.

​

To tell my story in my own words is something I thought I’d never be able to do when I couldn’t talk. There have been times during my FND when my symptoms haven’t always been understood or believed due to a lack of understanding, which is why raising awareness of FND is so important.

​

I’m now hoping to raise awareness about my condition and hope that by sharing my story, it will help others who are struggling with FND. Despite my FND, I’ve never given up hope of achieving my dreams. My FND took my voice and body from me, but I’m now more determined than ever to not let my FND hold me back from doing anything.