From Rock Bottom to Marathons: How One Woman Walked Away From Both Paralysis and Heartbreak
It could have been the end of her story — a sudden spinal stroke, a grim prognosis, and a marriage crumbling just days later. But for 37-year-old Halifax mother Riona Kelly, what began as the darkest chapter of her life became the opening scene of a remarkable comeback.
A Double Blow
In March 2015, Riona’s world shattered in an instant. A spinal stroke left her paralyzed from the waist down, with doctors warning she’d never walk again. Just five days into her hospital stay, as she tried to process life in a wheelchair, she was hit with another shock: her 14-year marriage was over.
“I wasn’t happy in my marriage, but we had a life together — responsibilities, a family,” she later reflected. “Losing my mobility and my partner in the same week… it was crushing.”
Alone in a hospital bed, depression crept in. The idea of a future — much less a fulfilling one — seemed impossible.
Steps Against the Odds
Yet somewhere between the sterile hospital corridors and the relentless grind of physiotherapy, despair began to give way to determination. Supported by her medical team and driven by a fierce desire to be present for her children, Riona pushed past every limit her doctors set.
The day she first shuffled forward between parallel bars, her consultant could hardly believe it. The impossible, it seemed, was just a matter of persistence.
A New Chapter, A New Love
Four months later, Riona returned home with a singular mission: to conquer the 16 stairs in her house. Rehabilitation brought her into the orbit of personal trainer Keith Mason. Over the course of 11 months, professional support blossomed into a relationship, and their blended families became a source of shared joy and strength.
Today, Riona can walk short distances unaided and has completed two marathons in her wheelchair — feats unthinkable in those first painful days after her stroke.
Life After Loss
Her ex-husband later clarified that he had asked for a divorce the day before her stroke and maintained his role in supporting their children during her recovery. Both have since built separate lives.
For Riona, the path forward is clear: keep moving, keep proving the odds wrong, and keep embracing the life she fought so hard to reclaim.
Conclusion
What could have been a story about defeat became a testament to resilience. Riona Kelly didn’t just learn to walk again — she rebuilt her entire life. Her journey is proof that even when life deals you a double blow, the human spirit can push forward, rise up, and find joy on the other side of heartbreak.