An MP’s dream of walking down the aisle unaided is set to come true thanks to new technology.
Amy Callaghan had a stroke and has been reliant on a crutch ever since.
But she has put her faith in a rehab centre at Strathclyde University.
And the 29-year-old SNP MP for East Dunbartonshire now hopes to ditch the crutch when she weds Sean McLaughlan in St Andrews next spring.
The politician underwent an eight-week treatment programme at the new centre, partnered with Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland.
She said: “When you have a stroke, they tell you there is a golden period for recovery of two years and people take that as gospel.
“I am within that golden period but what the team have proved is this timescale is very outdated and you can actually make a recovery at any age post-stroke. That is the most fantastic part of the project.
“I was on the course with people who had a stroke four to six years ago and they were making a recovery.
“It shows that the brain and the neuroplasticity is there to make changes as long as you are willing and able to put in the effort and have access to the equipment.
“The centre gives access to technology which stimulates the brain to aid recovery,
“A large part of the difficulty stroke survivors have is multitasking, like being able to walk and talk at the same time or talking and playing games.”
Strathclyde University’s Department of Biomedical Engineering has introduced research in areas like robotics, virtual reality and computer gaming technology to rehabilitation.
When patients use the treadmill, they are able to see exactly how their body is balancing the weight on each side.
Amy went to the centre three times a week during her eight-week stint. She said: “It made a tangible difference.
“Since my stroke, my crutch is something I have relied on completely and never thought I could leave the house without it.
“But I have lost my crutch on a couple of occasions as I feel less reliant on it now. That’s quite exciting for me.”
And she said walking down the aisle unaided is “very realistic now”.
She added: “I walked the length of a platform at Euston Station three weeks ago and that is a lot longer than the aisle I intend walking down, so I am confident I will achieve that.”
Amy hopes to push herself even further and hit the dance floor on her big day. She said: “I’ve been practising the Slosh at physio – that’s a good one for balance.”
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