An 80-year-old - who was told by medical professionals she would never walk again - has regained her independence after embarking on a tailored exercise programme at the Belong Newcastle-under-Lyme care village.

Chris Bougourd, who previously enjoyed playing tennis, bowls and swimming, saw her life change overnight after developing severe complications from surgery for cancer, including sepsis, which resulted in a period in intensive care.

Within just two weeks, she went from being a highly active person to requiring a wheelchair.

Chris, along with her husband Mike, moved to Belong Newcastle-under-Lyme after spending time in other care settings, and with Chris no longer able to live at home.

This allowed the couple - who married in 1964 following a holiday romance in Guernsey, where Mike is from - to remain close to each other.

Mike lived in an independent living apartment while Chris received the care she needed on one of the village's households for people requiring 24-hour support.

Reflecting on the journey, Mike said: "The support has been tremendous throughout the whole village. We can't fault them.

"Support workers on the household were fabulous in adapting to support Chris to move to and from the apartment.

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"The physiotherapy has a transformative effect on Chris's quality of life. We are both very grateful to them."

Despite being told at a rehabilitation hospital that Chris would never walk again, the couple refused to give up hope.

Upon moving to the village, Chris began a personalised recovery programme of regular functional strength and mobility exercises facilitated by the village's on-site gym and exercise specialist, focusing on walking with increasingly reduced support to get her first standing and then moving around.

This has evolved to include functional stepping exercises designed to prepare her for the physical demands of an upcoming holiday.

All Belong village customers have access to a specialist gym, run by a highly qualified exercise specialist who has experience working with older people.

Everyone who moves into a Belong village household for 24-hour support is assessed by the exercise specialist and offered a free personalised exercise or rehabilitation programme, and members of the public and apartment residents can also access the services.

After the first month, Chris was able to spend much of her time in the couple's apartment, returning to the household only at night. Four months later, she moved out of the 24-hour care environment entirely to live with Mike.

Although she gets tired quickly, she is now able to perform most daily tasks for herself.

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Julie Whittingham-Jones, exercise specialist at Belong Newcastle-under-Lyme, added: "Chris is a very determined lady, and we are delighted by her progress.

"Her commitment to attending personalised exercise sessions twice a week In the Belong gym are helping her to regain her strength, balance and mobility. She is truly inspirational."

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