REFLECTIONS | ABBIE POTTS
Title
What Abbie Potts Taught Me About Purpose in a Wheelchair
The Story
Abbie Potts shares her journey from a young, active and independent life in the countryside to experiencing seizures that left her in a wheelchair in her 20s. An inspiring story of acceptance, resilience, and adapting to a completely new way of living. Abbie believes everything happens for a reason, finding purpose in who she is today and embracing the life she now leads.
Opening
Abbie is full of energy, full of life, cheeky, and full of character. I already knew parts of her story, but I wanted her to sit down and tell it properly. It’s the kind of story that can really help others.
What Stayed With Me
What really stayed with me was Abbie saying that her life is actually better now than it was before she was in a wheelchair. That’s hard to get your head around—but that’s her truth. It’s how she feels, and all you can do is respect that. She’s living a fulfilled life, doing great things, and there’s a real sense of acceptance in that.
The Bigger Reflection
Being in a wheelchair doesn’t mean you can’t live a full, active, and meaningful life. Abbie is proof of that. She’s embraced opportunities, documentaries, interviews, new experiences, that may never have happened otherwise. She’s not defined by her situation; she’s built something positive from it, and that’s a powerful message
A Line I Won’t Forget
“I walked into hospital, and came out paralysed.”
It’s such a shocking sentence. To go in one way and come out with your life completely changed, and still not have clear answers, takes a level of strength most people can’t imagine.
Closing Thought
I’ve known Abbie for a few years now. I’ve spent time with her, her family, and heard her story more than once. What always stands out is her energy, she’s fun, unpredictable, and great to be around. Wheelchair or not, that’s just who she is. And that’s what people connect with. She’s someone others can look up to, not because of what happened to her, but because of how she lives her life.
