Jamilla Blake, aged 20, will be taking part in this year’s Royal Parks Half Marathon, presented by Royal Banks of Canada, to raise money for the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, after suffering from a ‘1 in a million’ condition that resulted in her using a wheelchair at the age of seven whilst she awaited surgery.

Jamilla was experiencing severe back pain when her mum decided to take her to an osteopath, who thought the pain was a result of all the dance classes she was doing. The pain persisted, disrupting Jamilla’s sleep and prompting her mum to seek further medical advice. Upon examination, the practice nurse recognised symptoms reminiscent of a slipped disc and referred her to the hospital immediately.

Jamilla’s symptoms became so debilitating that she could no longer walk and now required a wheelchair.  After an initial X-ray revealed a mass on her spine, she was sent to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH) for a further CT biopsy and MRI scan. 

The results unveiled a rare condition: Jamilla had developed a ‘benign lesion’ known as an aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC), which was wrapped around her L3 and L4 vertebrae. The growth was exerting extreme pressure on her spinal cord, which explained the pain she was experiencing. Aneurysmal bone cysts affecting the spine are exceptionally rare, especially within patients as young as Jamilla, affecting approximately 1 in a million people.  

Jamilla underwent an extraordinarily complex surgery, which ended up lasting 10 hours in total - six hours longer than expected. Fortunately, however, the procedure was deemed successful. 

Jamilla’s recovery was equally demanding, forced to spend two weeks post-surgery lying completely flat, having to be carefully rolled every two hours, day and night, to prevent bedsores. After this initial phase, Jamilla spent another week in hospital before being discharged with a plaster cast she wore for five months, followed by a brace for an additional six months. Throughout this period, Jamilla relied on a ‘Chunk’ wheelchair, which is permanently reclined to accommodate her inability to bend at the waist. 

A decade later, Jamilla’s recovery has been nothing short of remarkable. She says:
‘Sometimes the impossible is possible. My mum was told I could be paralysed for life, if I survived at all, but 13 years later I am running the Royal Parks Half Marathon’. 

Since her surgery, she has been dedicated to raising funds for the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH), focusing on supporting their medical research – the very kind of research that saved her life. 

Jamilla’s consultant had pioneered a new treatment method tailored to her young age, monitoring her progress until she turned 15 to compile a comprehensive report for future cases. Emphasising the importance of this, Jamilla said:
‘Without the surgery I had, I would have been treated with metal in my spine, which had been done before, but it would have stunted my growth and led to annual operations to extend the metal as I grew’. 

As well as running for the RNOH, Jamilla wants to run the Royal Parks Half Marathon to inspire those undergoing medical challenges of their own. She draws strength from her Mum who has survived a few life threatening illnesses herself. 

‘My Mum is the strongest person I know. I constantly want to make her proud, and I know that not only doing the half marathon but also getting out and training makes her proud, particularly as she is a runner herself, and that is so important for me’.

Despite finding the training tough, Jamilla is incredibly proud of the progress she has made over the years. From not being able to walk, to running her first half marathon, Jamilla’s only goal is to get round and enjoy the day:

‘I chose the Royal Parks Half Marathon as my first one because I wanted it to be somewhere I would actually enjoy running around! To get round the course will be a huge achievement for me… As I’ve grown older, and fully understand how serious the situation was, I am much more appreciative of being alive and being able to enjoy life the way I do.

To donate to Jamilla’s cause, please visit her fundraising page

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