Episode 64: From pavement to hospital bed: The brutal moment that changed Cat Neill’s life forever

In this episode of the PRsonal Podcast, we sit down with the incredible Cat Neil, a mortgage advisor whose life was turned upside down in February 2024 — and who has since emerged as a powerful voice for resilience, vulnerability, and healing.

Cat was nearing the end of a 5K training run when she was suddenly hit by a car while on the pavement — an incident so severe it left her with an open fracture to her leg, sparking a medical journey that would involve nine operations, including two 11-hour limb-saving surgeries, skin grafts, leech therapy, and blood transfusions. But as harrowing as her physical injuries were, it’s Cat’s mental and emotional resilience that shines brightest in this deeply moving conversation.

She shares, with raw honesty, the silent battles she fought behind closed doors: learning to depend on others for basic needs, grieving the loss of her old body and identity, and the exhausting mental energy of navigating a world that expects visible healing. Her story exposes the often unseen reality of life after trauma — where the hardest work is done quietly, long after the headlines fade.

Despite it all, Cat’s mindset is nothing short of extraordinary. A lifelong journaler, she turned to writing, mantras like “safe, happy, healthy, loved”, and the grounding belief that “your mind is limitless” to carry herself through. With emotional intelligence, she speaks candidly about the importance of therapy, support systems, self-compassion, and the power of showing up — even imperfectly.

But this is not just a story about survival – it's a raw and unfiltered exploration of resilience, mindset, and healing. Cat speaks with remarkable vulnerability about:

• Facing trauma and physical recovery head-on
• The quiet power of journaling and mindset work
• Grieving her former self and rediscovering confidence
• How trauma impacts relationships and intimacy
• The emotional weight of relying on others and regaining autonomy
• Her evolving relationship with her body, and the strength it still carries

Cat’s message is clear: You are stronger than you think. And even in your darkest moments, you can choose to keep going — hour by hour, day by day.
Whether you're navigating your own healing journey or supporting someone who is, this episode is a powerful reminder that recovery isn’t linear, and that resilience is a daily decision.

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