Young Woman Recounts Trauma, Paralysis, and Finding Strength

Sarah Partush, now 19, has shared her harrowing journey of recovery after waking up at age 15 in a hospital with no memory and partial paralysis. She had been in intensive care for weeks, intubated and sedated, following a severe fall from a 16-meter height from emergency stairs at her boarding school. The fall resulted in a broken spine, a torn spinal cord, and five shattered vertebrae. Upon waking, she suffered from amnesia, not recognizing her parents or basic objects like forks and spoons, and was told she would likely never regain sensation below her chest.

Partush's physical struggles were compounded by severe emotional trauma stemming from ongoing sexual abuse in her childhood, which led to a diagnosis of complex post-traumatic stress disorder and borderline personality disorder. For years, she and her psychologist agreed to tell people she was injured in a hit-and-run accident, as she lacked the courage to reveal the truth about the fall, which she now admits was a suicide attempt.

Her rehabilitation at the Loewenstein Hospital was arduous, requiring her to relearn basic functions. Despite the immense challenges, Partush discovered inner strength and resilience, engaging in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. She also found solace and support through art and formed a deep bond with a fellow patient, whom she describes as a soulmate.

Now, four years later, Partush continues her recovery from her hospital bed. She has become an online inspiration to thousands of young people, sharing her story and offering hope to those facing their own difficulties. She revealed her true story on social media about six months ago, motivated by messages from teens who found strength in her resilience. Visitors, some of whom she met online, have come to her hospital room to offer support, which, despite her social anxiety, she finds deeply moving. She is currently cared for by her mother and uses adaptive equipment like an electric bicycle attached to her wheelchair to maintain independence.