A mum-of-four ‘dumped’ by her husband days after being paralysed by a stroke has found love again with the personal trainer who helped her recover.
Riona Kelly, 37, was left paralysed from the waist down following a spinal stroke and was told she would never walk again.
After just five days in hospital, she claims her husband Richard – who she had been with for 14 years – requested a divorce.
But the mum from Halifax, West Yorkshire, fought on, taking her first steps eight weeks later – and has since found love with her personal trainer, Keith Mason, 35.
Riona said of her ordeal, which began in March 2015: “After suffering a stroke not only did I have to deal with paralysis but I had to deal with losing my partner of 14 years.
“After he asked me for a divorce I was left completely alone. After five days in hospital I was told it would take me six months to a year to recover.
“At the time I felt like giving up, but I knew I had to be strong for my children. When I finally took my first steps it felt amazing.”
However, Richard claims he actually asked for a divorce before Riona’s accident, and visited her in hospital when he wasn’t looking after Leighanra, 16, Caleb, 11, Izabela, nine and Logan, five.