Love and Sex with UK's First Paralysed Surgeon Dr Mo Belal Episode 4

In this conversation Simon tells us about how he met his wife, Jen. He'd had multiple relationships before, but with Jen, he says, he felt he could truly be himself and be open about his disability.

We're joined by DR MO BELAL, a consultant urologist, who was paralysed after being hit by a falling tree whilst cycling. Despite his disability - he's paralysed from the waist down - Mo has gone back to work as a surgeon, earning him the title of the UK's First Paralysed Surgeon.

Mo tells of the day everything changed for him during COVID. He and Simon reflect on the coping mechanisms and the emotional challenges they faced after their life-changing injuries. They explore the way in which intimate relationships, including sex, are impacted by spinal cord injury.

Mo very candidly discusses how his injury has affected his relationship with his wife: 'it does dramatically change your relationship with your wife…(you have) to change the whole paradigm because there's a physical problem..the way I look at is that with the medication, with the injections, I'm able to have erections. And actually, that's real positive.'

Simon and Mo also discuss the impact of having carers at home. They both rue the lack of privacy. Mo's family do without the outside help of carers, but Simon has day and night support.

They go on to consider some of the technological advances that have helped M o back to work.

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