In February 2022, Bella Mohn was preparing to fly back to her boarding school when an unexpected medical emergency struck. The then-eighteen-year-old, who had been living with the congenital heart condition known as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome since she was fifteen, experienced a heart rate spike that sent her to the hospital. What was intended to be a routine cardiac ablation took a tragic turn; within days, she found herself paralysed from the waist down. Doctors suggested the paralysis may have resulted from an unusual reaction to the anaesthesia.
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“When I woke up, I was in some of the worst pain,” Mohn shared, now aged twenty-three. “I was extremely weak.” Before this life-altering event, the energetic teenager had been highly active, excelling in gymnastics and dance. Suddenly thrust into a life reliant on a wheelchair, she faced the daunting challenge of adjusting to her new reality, coupled with the uncertainty of what had triggered her paralysis.
Upon her hospital release, Mohn briefly returned to the therapeutic boarding school she had attended, but the staff soon realised they could not provide the required care for a wheelchair user. In April, just two months post-paralysis, she entered a rehabilitation programme where therapists laid out an ambitious goal: they aimed to assist her in walking out of the facility.
Reflecting on her time at rehab, she recalled, “When I got there, they were like, ‘We’re gonna try and get you walking out of here,’” Mohn noted. After spending around three weeks in rehabilitation, she moved back in with her parents to continue her intensive physical therapy. Dealing not only with her physical limitations but also with the emotional aftermath of such a drastic change proved challenging.
“I was really depressed at first,” she admitted. “I just didn’t know what to do.” Nevertheless, Mohn gradually resolved to focus on what she could achieve rather than what she had lost. Drawing encouragement from family, friends, and even small milestones, she began her journey of recovery. Initially, she struggled to sit upright but achieved incremental progress, ultimately mastering standing with the aid of a walker and experiencing movement again through the use of an exoskeleton.
Determined to channel her experiences into something impactful, Mohn began documenting her rehabilitation journey online. Initially sharing her progress on YouTube, she later expanded her presence to Instagram and TikTok, where her videos showcasing the practice of standing resonated with many viewers. “I was like, ‘Oh, like, people wanna watch this?’” she recalled, realising the potential impact of her story.
Feedback from her audience has reinforced Mohn’s mission. Many viewers shared how her journey inspired them to embark on their own paths to recovery. “Just knowing that I can help other people and show other people that life is not over despite being disabled,” she expressed, “and that there’s still so much to live for.”
As part of her recovery, Mohn reconnected with her athletic side. At a gym specially designed for individuals with paralysis, she discovered an adaptive sports foundation offering a variety of activities, including sled hockey, hand cycling, and rock climbing. Mohn fell in love with sled hockey, joining the Seattle Adaptive Kraken and forming relationships with teammates ranging in age and ability. One of her fondest memories involves her first tournament in Colorado, where the camaraderie of being part of a team filled her with joy.
While she continues to explore various adaptive sports, challenges often emerge. Living two hours from Seattle complicates accessing some programmes. Mohn is learning to drive using hand controls, which is a crucial step towards greater independence and easier participation in athletic activities. In addition to this progress, she has incorporated swimming into her routine, significantly enhancing her upper-body strength.
Currently, Mohn is a junior at Evergreen State College, pursuing studies in marketing and communications while balancing her academic responsibilities with online content creation, physical therapy, and adaptive sports. Despite facing recurrent health setbacks and hospitalisations, her resolve remains steadfast.
“No matter what has happened to you, there’s good in that life,” Mohn advises. Her mantra reflects a belief that life continues even after overwhelming changes, emphasising that there is still much to look forward to. “It gets better,” she reassures others who find themselves in similar situations. “You’ll still live a good life, and it’ll be okay.” Through her journey, Bella Mohn inspires a community of individuals, demonstrating resilience and the possibility of progress despite life’s adversities.