Brave Glasgow woman, 19, paralysed from rare condition takes to streets to pursue singing dream
A brave Glasgow woman is pursuing her dreams as a singing star after being paralysed from a rare neurological condition.
Just two years ago Annastaisyar Muir woke up paralysed from the waist down with no idea what had happened, she was rushed to hospital where stumped medics worked to find out what was going on.
The 19-year-old spent two months in the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, with music the only thing keeping her going. After finally receiving a diagnosis, she is following her dreams as a singer. After months of waiting for answers, Annastaisyar was diagnosed with a Functional Neurological Disorder, which impacts how the brain sends and receives information and causes sudden paralysis. She slowly recovered and was desperate to get back to singing.
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Months after being unable to move and stuck in hospital, the brave teen performed her first set in Glasgow from a wheelchair in Buchanan Street. Since then, she has performed dozens of times and delights revellers every Saturday with her energetic sets in the city centre.
Annastaisyar told Glasgow Live: "Music was what kept me going in hospital. I love listening to music and singing, and I decided once I got better I would take up busking. I just love performing, and busking means you encounter all types, from old couples doing their shopping to young people going on nights out.
"I love all genres so I like taking requests and making people smile when I play their favourite song."
Annastaisyar first busked while in Rome doing a scholarship in opera singing when she was just 13 years old. Travelling with dad Alex, they busked for spending money while in Italy to pay for food and drinks, singing opera and pop songs.
She said: "I thought I could get back into busking once I was well enough. I was in a wheelchair and still having bad days so I didn't think I could get any other job. So we went to Buchanan Street with my wee amp and I performed from my wheelchair. I was really nervous but the crowds were so welcoming and I just got the bug."
The 19-year-old now attends college, studying music and sound production, and wants to make music her career. She released her first single earlier this year and plans a Christmas tune, too. She still has bad days with her health and needs some help day to day, but she makes sure she's always ready for Saturday busking.
Annastaisyar explained: "It takes a lot out of you, singing for eight hours but I love it and make sure to listen to my body and take rests or seats when I need to.
"By Saturday night the crowds are up for anything and there is a real party atmosphere. I've had big groups of dancers doing Irish dancing, people dancing to Whitney Houston and huge crowds joining in for Valerie by Amy Winehouse like a mass karaoke event. I still suffer bad health a bit but getting to perform really keeps me going."
You can learn more about Annastaisyar's music here.
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