Renowned fashion designer Toyin Lawani has opened up about her two-year battle with paralysis and the strength it took to push through.
Sharing her journey on Instagram, Lawani recalled a time when walking felt impossible. Despite enduring excruciating pain, she refused to let it take control of her life.
She revealed that every step, stretch, and smile comes with lingering pain—but it’s that very pain that continues to drive her determination and resilience.
Each small step forward, she noted, reflected her unyielding determination to keep going.
Lawani recalled being bedridden for six months and emphasised her commitment to avoiding a return to that state.
Following her neurosurgeon’s guidance, she said she engages in minimal workouts, steering clear of heavy lifting and sit-ups to safeguard her spine.
She encouraged others grappling with pain to resist its control and to show up boldly when it matters most.
She wrote: “From paralysis to perseverance, while the pain can feel Everlasting ,Quitting is worse.
There was a time when movement seemed impossible, but each small step forward is a testament to my don’t give up spirit.
Every lift, every stretch, every rep , Every smile comes with pain I never thought I’d endure and which you can never imagine, Yet, it’s in these moments that I find strength in perseverance and resilience.
Progress may be slow, but it’s progress nonetheless. I’ll keep pushing through, even when it’s hard, because the alternative is unthinkable. Just A Pretty unstoppable Girl living with DDD
“My neurosurgeon passed it off cause I know online adviser will soon start now. Still swollen here and there but What I can’t mess with is my spine,
Minimum workouts ok and not too much heavy lifting and no sit ups
“When I think of the days I was bedridden for 6months I don’t want to go back there again. Good to be out of the body brace for a while. To anyone going through pain right now you have to fight it , don’t let it dictate your life to you , Show out and show up when you need to”.