How a falling man changed my life forever
A bizarre accident left Grace Spence Green paralysed from the chest down. But it also changed her as a person, and made her a better doctor.
In 2018, medical student Grace Spence Green was walking through an East London shopping centre when a man jumped from the third floor. He landed on her and broke her spine, leaving her paralysed from the chest down. The incident quickly made the news.
As Grace went through recovery, the hospital became a place of discomfort and dependence where she felt out of control. Through many difficult but also joyful moments, Grace slowly shifted her perspective, both on medical care and disability.
When Grace returned to everyday life, she realised that the world isn't built for her, and she had to learn how to react to other people's comments and questions. She returned to medical school and reached her goal of becoming a doctor. Now, she feels like her time as a spinal injury patient was the best placement she could have had as a medical student.
Dr Grace Spence Green has written a memoir about her experiences called To Exist As I Am.
Presenter: Asya Fouks
Producer: Florian Bohr & Andrea Kennedy
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707.
(Photo: Grace Spence Green. Credit: Alicia Canter)
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