Reclaiming movement

At 37 years old, Liliana is a proud mother of two who has overcome incredible challenges to rebuild her life and strength. After suffering a stroke at just 26 due to the rare Moyamoya disease, followed by two major brain surgeries, she faced significant setbacks. Through determination and the right support, she has not only recovered but has grown stronger than ever before. This is her inspiring journey.

My Story

My name is Liliana. I am a 37-year-old mother of two wonderful children, Aiden, who is now 17, and Ella, who is 11.

On 22 January 2015, at the age of 26, my life changed in an instant when I suffered a stroke caused by Moyamoya disease, a rare condition that causes progressive blockage of the arteries in the brain. I was paralysed on the right side of my body and lost my speech. The doctors told me I had just 24 hours for the bleeding in my arteries to stop if I was to survive.

Thankfully, the bleeding decreased the next day. After various tests, I was advised to begin intensive rehabilitation, as surgery was not possible at the time. One week later, I was transferred to St Luke’s Hospital, where I started a full-time 24/7 rehabilitation programme. I spent four months there, working every day with a physiotherapist and speech therapist. I was only allowed home on weekends to see my family.

Slowly but surely, I began to regain my speech and the ability to walk. At first, my walking was stiff and robotic, but after four months I was walking again. My right arm, however, remained very weak.

I continued physiotherapy and used electrical stimulation machines to help regain movement. After a full year of hard work, I was able to reunite with my family and young children.

Over the following years, I had regular MRI scans while waiting for further treatment. In 2018, I was n 2018, I was called to London’s National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. After three years of preparation, I underwent a complex bypass operation on the left side of my brain in July 2021. It was a 12-hour surgery with serious risks, including a 90% chance of losing my speech.

Waking up afterwards was one of the happiest moments of my life.

In January 2023, just one day after my son’s birthday, I had to return to London for a second bypass operation on the right side of my brain. The surgery was successful, but upon returning to Malta, I experienced setbacks once again — difficulty walking, facial numbness and loss of strength in my arm.

That was when I started my rehabilitation at The Movement School. Over three months, I worked hard with the team and saw incredible improvements. They helped me rebuild my coordination, balance and core stability.

Today, my weaknesses are almost gone, and I have progressed from walking with a limp to learning how to jog and run again with no limitations. Most importantly, they helped me regain my confidence and speak up about my journey.

I am especially grateful to Josef Pace, the Director of Rehabilitation and Physiotherapist at The Movement School Malta, for believing in me, and to his team of dedicated coaches and staff, especially Mathis, for his patience, time and dedication.

This battle was not mine alone; my family also fought through it with me. To anyone going through illness or surgery, I want to say this: there is light at the end of the tunnel.

After 11 years, I can proudly say I have come back stronger than ever.

Located inside DaVinci Health, The Movement School Malta is the island’s only certified clinic of The Running and Movement School UK.

The clinic is built on a unique, patented movement therapy system developed by renowned coach Mike Antoniades. At its core, the method focuses on restoring The clinic’s approach focuses on restoring neuromuscular efficiency by repatterning movement and rewiring the brain for better function.

Using specialised physiotherapy assessments and highly targeted exercise programmes, the team challenges the proprioceptive system, strengthens neural pathways and improves overall kinetic chain coordination.

The outcome is clear: reduced pain, smoother and more efficient movement patterns, and noticeably enhanced physical performance.