Telha
For 37-year-old mother of four, Riona Kelly, 2015 brought not just one but two devastating blows. One that left her physically paralyzed and another that shattered her emotionally.
Riona suffered a stroke that left her paralyzed from the waist down. With doctors telling her she might never walk again. Yet, it wasn’t this heartbreaking prognosis that broke her; it was the betrayal that came soon after.
In an interview with The Mirror in 2017, Riona explained that she had been in a car accident 18 months earlier, which may have contributed to her spinal issues. But the real heartbreak came when her husband of 14 years, Richard, filed for divorce just five days after her stroke.
Lying in a hospital bed, paralyzed with grief, Riona felt hopeless. She couldn’t imagine how she would care for her four children or rebuild her life. “After my husband left me in the hospital, my friend Sarah became my next of kin. It was her and the children who supported me during my recovery,” Riona shared. “Looking back, I realize I was miserable in my marriage, but we had built a life and responsibilities together.”
The road to recovery was long and grueling. Initially, even leaving the house in a wheelchair was unbearable for Riona. “The first time I went out in a wheelchair, I hated it. I hated myself. If someone had given me the option, I would have ended my life. I didn’t want to live anymore,” she admitted.
Her recovery began to turn around when she met Keith Mason, a former rugby league player and athlete, who became her personal trainer during intensive rehabilitation. The two quickly formed a bond and started spending more time together. Keith became a source of support and inspiration, not just for Riona but for her children as well.
With Keith’s encouragement and hours of physiotherapy, Riona regained some mobility, although she still relies on a wheelchair for long distances. Together, they achieved incredible milestones, including completing multiple marathons.
Riona even began walking with the help of advanced technology—a bionic frame with artificial intelligence, which enabled her to do things she never thought possible. Keith often shared updates about Riona’s progress on social media, inspiring millions during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
“The thought of us walking hand-in-hand around York for hours was unthinkable just months ago,” Keith wrote on Twitter in 2022, sharing a video of Riona walking with her bionic legs.
However, by 2023, it seems their relationship has changed. Keith stopped posting about Riona, and while he hasn’t deleted their old photos, Riona appears to have deactivated her social media accounts.
Although their journey together may have ended, it remains a story of resilience and determination. We wish them both health and happiness as they move forward, knowing they’ve inspired countless people with their incredible journey.
