Diana Man British woman, victim of meningitis Country: Great Britain

1. Biography of Diana Man
2. Early Life and Love for Horses
3. Professional Equestrian Career and Illness
4. Overcoming Adversity and Returning to Riding
5. Pursuing Multiple Sports and Paralympic Dreams

Biography of Diana Man

Diana Man, a British victim of meningitis, lost both of her legs as a result of a severe case of the disease. However, this did not stop Diana from pursuing her passion for horse riding. Her dream now is to become a member of the Paralympic team.

Early Life and Love for Horses

Diana Man, born and raised in East Sussex, sat on a horse for the first time at the age of 7. She quickly made progress and became a member of the 'Eridge Pony Club' during her teenage years. Diana looks back fondly on those years and cherishes the memories she made with the club.

Professional Equestrian Career and Illness

Diana's passion for horse riding did not fade away after leaving school. In fact, she became a professional rider and reached the highest level in the national equestrian scene. Unfortunately, in 2007, when Diana was 25 years old, she fell seriously ill. To her horror and the devastation of her family, she was diagnosed with meningitis, a ruthless disease that often leaves little chance of recovery. Diana spent three months in the intensive care unit, where doctors fought for her life. Following this, she underwent a lengthy rehabilitation process.

Overcoming Adversity and Returning to Riding

Despite surviving, Diana faced a bleak reality. Both of her legs were amputated above the knees, and she also lost the use of her fingers. However, she did not have time to grieve. She had to learn to walk again with her new prosthetic legs and adapt to using prosthetic hands. This period marked a challenging time of struggle for Diana. However, she was determined to continue pursuing her passion for horse riding. Once she was able to stand on her prosthetic legs, Diana knew that nothing could stop her. She was soon back on a horse, relearning how to ride from scratch. A specially designed prosthetic hand allowed her to hold the reins, and after a while, Diana started competing again.

Pursuing Multiple Sports and Paralympic Dreams

Many believe that Diana has a natural talent for sports. Apart from horse riding, she also took up skiing and running. Only Diana knows the effort and hours of training she puts into achieving the apparent ease with which she competes. There have been moments of sweat, tears, falls, doubts, and the desire to give up. However, Diana Man is a fighter by nature, and she has a clear goal in mind – to make it onto the Paralympic team by 2016. She still has a lot of training ahead of her, but Diana is making significant strides towards her dream and has already made a name for herself at the national level.