Success at the Paralympics doesn’t come easily. It demands not just physical prowess and mental fortitude but also a robust network of professional and personal relationships. Aaron Phipps, MBE, an elite wheelchair rugby player and gold medal-winning Paralympian who is competing again in this year’s games in Paris, embodies the multifaceted journey of strength, resilience, and support systems.

Aaron’s Early Journey and Illness

Aaron’s life took a dramatic turn at the age of 15 when he was diagnosed with meningococcal septicaemia, or meningitis type C. The severity of the illness escalated within hours, leading to life support and an induced coma. Despite the gravity of the situation, Aaron expressed profound gratitude for the medical professionals who saved his life and later performed necessary amputations.

"It was a surreal experience, but the mental strength of the surgeons and medical team played a vital role in putting me back together. I remember having people in my room talking to me. It'd be, I don't know, an ear, nose, and throat doctor who'd be saying, ‘I've got a four-hour wait in my clinic because I'm here with you at the moment’, and you think, ‘Okay. I'm never going to moan about sitting in a waiting room ever again’.

“And they were the ones that put me back together. We are so incredibly lucky to have the support of those people that look after us."

After almost a year in the hospital, Aaron skipped returning to school and went straight to college. His friends remained supportive throughout, and, with professional help, including a clinical psychologist, Aaron was able to rewire his brain and shift into survival........

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