An Aberdeenshire charity chief who was paralysed by a rare illness and left bedbound for a year has amazed his family by taking his first unaided trip in a wheelchair.
Crathes man Robin Maitland, who has helped save thousands of lives as trustee of the Sandpiper Trust, has slowly regained movement in his hands after being struck down with Neuromyelitis optica in December 2014.
The 58-year-old was taken to the spinal unit at Glasgow Southern General hospital on Christmas Eve that year, where his heartbroken family kept vigil by his side.
At first, baffled doctors could not come up with an explanation for his condition, and feared what the future might hold.
But now – as the “perfect start to the New Year” – Mr Maitland has been able to move himself in the electric wheelchair, and has managed to write his own name for the first time since losing mobility.
The 59-year-old father-of-four is still unable to speak and communicates with his family through an Ipad from the Glen O’ Dee hospital where he resides.
But his wife Clare has said the unaided journey is a “massive step” and hopes it will be the first of many milestones for the former Strutt and Parker partner.
The 56-year-old: “It’s fantastic that after so long in bed he has finally got some of his independence back.
“Robin is still really fragile, a cold could completely knock him over, but we are feeling positive about the progress he is making.
“Imagine the feeling of being independent after one year of lying in bed.
“The wheelchair belongs to the hospital but one day we hope to be able to get him a similar one to use when he comes home one day.”
Mr Maitland’s neurological condition, which only affects 1 in 100,000 people in the UK, leads to the sufferer’s immune system reacting abnormally and attacking the body’s tissues and organs.
Currently, there is no known cure.
A specialist team at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary held discussions with colleagues around the world, including tropical disease experts in Africa, where Mr Maitland was admitted to hospital.
The diagnosis of Neuromyelitis optica has since been found to be the closest related condition.