One of the biggest blessings of running my own business as a Virtual Assistant is freedom. Freedom to work when I want, how I want, and most importantly – the freedom to take care of myself without needing to justify my every move to a manager. No annual leave forms. No chasing flexi-time. Just a quick hospital appointment and back to work when I’m ready. ✅
A Familiar Place with a Life-Changing Impact 🏥
Today was one of those “pop-out” moments. I had my 12-month mobility review at ORLAU, part of the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Oswestry – a place I know very well. In fact, I’ve been going there on and off since I was about four years old, first assessed by ORLAU’s incredible founder, Mr Gordon Rose.
So, what is ORLAU? 🤔ORLAU stands for the Orthotic Research & Locomotor Assessment Unit, and they’re true pioneers in helping people with mobility challenges live more independently. The team uses cutting-edge research, engineering, and physiotherapy to design orthotic equipment (like braces and walking frames) tailored to each individual’s needs. You can find out more on their website:👉 ORLAU at Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital
This year, ORLAU turns 50. And, by complete coincidence… so do I in November 🎉
When One Size Doesn’t Fit All
A few years ago, I’d reached the point where a standard off-the-shelf walking frame just wasn’t cutting it. It wasn’t supporting me properly, it didn’t match the way I move, and it was becoming more of a barrier than a help. That’s when Keith Miller, one of ORLAU’s brilliant rehabilitation engineers, stepped in.
Keith took the time to understand how I walk, not just in theory, but in practice. Working with the amazing ORLAU physio team, he designed and built a completely custom-made walking frame just for me. It supports me in all the right ways and matches my posture, movement style, and balance needs. It has been life-changing. 🙌
In Keith’s own words:
“Being able to help Vicki with a custom-made walking device has been incredibly rewarding. Vicki’s current frame has now been adapted & enhanced three times, each one at Vicki’s request for additional features that give her greater control over her walking. The latest adaptation was to provide spring return 3D printed levers, that enable her to unlock the anti-reverse wheels to help turn corners. Vicki is a true inspiration and it’s been a pleasure to watch her walking develop using a frame we manufactured here in ORLAU.”
In 2017, I was still using that old-style frame. But today? The difference is night and day.
I’ve gone from struggling with every step, dreading every step, to genuinely enjoying walking – albeit a very short distance, at a snail’s pace 🐌. It’s no longer something I force myself to do – it’s something I look forward to. And that’s a feeling I never thought I’d have again. 💚
Don’t Settle – Get the Support You Deserve
If you’re disabled and have some mobility, or if you use a walking aid that doesn’t feel quite right, please don’t settle. Speak to your GP or even contact Keith Miller directly at kmiller10@nhs.net to ask about a referral to ORLAU. They are true world leaders in orthopaedic support – and they change lives. 🌍
This is why I always say: don’t let your disability define your limits. If there’s something you want badly enough, there are ways to get there – with help, heaps of willpower, and a mountain of determination. 💪
Yes, disability brings challenges – there’s no sugar-coating that. But it can also be a powerful teacher. It can show you how strong you are, how creative you can be, and how determined you are to live life on your own terms. The key is not to let it get the better of you – instead, use it to fuel your ambition. 🔥
Turn it into a positive. Use the hurdles as stepping stones. Let it push you to think outside the box, find different solutions, and reach out to the people and services that do understand. That’s exactly what I did – and every bit of progress I’ve made, physically and professionally, has grown from that mindset. 🌱
Support Makes All the Difference – in Life and in Business
You don’t have to fit someone else’s mould. You just need the right tools, the right support, and a belief that you deserve more than ‘just getting by.’
And in many ways, that’s exactly what I offer now through my business, Vicki Admin Fairy®. 🧚♀️
Just like I needed a walking frame that was built around me, not a one-size-fits-all solution, many small business owners need support that’s personalised to them. So many entrepreneurs struggle on, trying to do everything themselves, using the wrong systems, or feeling overwhelmed because things just don’t seem to “fit” the way they work.
That’s where a Virtual Assistant steps in – like Keith did for me with my mobility struggles.
I help business owners untangle the mess, streamline their processes, and create calm out of chaos. Whether it’s handling the admin that’s piling up, managing emails or social media, or helping them organise their time and tools, I provide that same kind of tailored support I received at ORLAU. Support that’s designed around how they work, what they need, and where they want to go. ✍️📊
Because no one should have to struggle alone.
Whether you’re learning to walk again or trying to move your business forward, the right support at the right time can make all the difference. 🌈
Celebrating Small Wins 🍦
And of course, a day like today deserves a proper celebration – so I headed straight to Brooklands Dairy for the best ice cream ever: mint choc chip and Ferrero, made right there on the farm. From cow to cone – delicious!
Being a VA has given me the power to shape a life that works for me. One where I can honour my health, chase my goals, and celebrate my wins–big and small. Today was all three. 🎯
Final Word – Don’t Wait to Seek Help 💌
If you’re reading this and struggling with mobility, please know that there is hope and help out there. Don’t put off asking for support. If you think ORLAU could help you, reach out. Speak to your GP or contact Keith Miller directly. What they’ve done for me has been truly life-changing. 🙏
Here’s to walking my own path – one proud, purposeful step at a time. 👣
📞 Book a free discovery call with me
✨ Book a discovery call with me: https://calendly.com/hello-vickiadminfairy/30min
🌟 Where admin chaos ends and business confidence begins.
Vicki