We are so proud to celebrate Natalia with this Gold Star Award! Natalia first came to ARC in December 2024 after a 5-month journey with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). She was experiencing severe headaches, dizziness, and lower limb weakness, which made walking difficult. At the time, she was using crutches to get around and had stopped all the things she loved—school, tennis, swimming, and even missed out on her usual adventures.

From day one, Natalia showed incredible determination. Her goals were big: to walk without crutches, get back to school, return to tennis and swimming, and even go skiing with her classmates. Physio sessions involved tasks that diverted attention and external focus with games, laughter, and flying balloons which allowed Natalia to begin to reconnect with smooth, confident movement.

Over time, Natalia progressed from walking without crutches to running, smashing tennis drills, and using gym equipment like a pro! She was also incredibly dedicated to her home program, uploading videos regularly and tracking her progress with enthusiasm.

Just four months later, Natalia is back in the pool, on the court, and on track to return to school. She’s been camping with friends, is now climbing trees, and working on running faster to beat her mates! Natalia, your courage, consistency, and contagious positivity have been such an inspiration to our team. Well done – we are so proud of you!