Hi everyone. It’s Gina and Jackson here, and we’re trying to raise funds for our lovely mum, Trudi. Our goal is to make sure the rest of her life is as safe, dignified, and stable as possible after a catastrophic spinal injury inflicted on her by her partner.

Mum’s Story

We may be biased, but our mum is a special lady: warm, gentle, intelligent, and endlessly creative. She met our dad when she was 17, and together they chased a music career that even landed them a record deal (she doesn’t let us forget). Later on she became a secondary school teacher (of French and Spanish) and was genuinely adored by her students. More importantly, she’s been a wonderful mother, grandmother, and wife to our late dad, Craig.

Mum’s had a full life with plenty to be grateful for - there’s no taking away from that. But the past 10 years have been incredibly difficult.

We lost our dad in 2016 to brain cancer, and ever since then it’s felt like we’ve been trying to piece things back together. As you’d expect, Mum eventually met someone new. What we didn’t know was that the relationship had become abusive.

Her Injury

On 17 February 2025, the abuse escalated. Mum’s neck was broken in an attack inflicted on her by her partner - at the C4, C6 and C7 level - causing a complete spinal cord injury. Mum is now tetraplegic.

She has limited movement in her arms, no movement in her hands, and no movement from the chest down. Her breathing is affected too.

The last 10 months have been hellish. Mum spent three months in ICU on a ventilator, unable to breathe on her own, speak, or move. She was later transferred to the specialist spinal injuries unit, where she’s now spent seven months receiving round-the-clock care and working towards whatever independence she can regain.

She’s expected to be in hospital for close to a year in total, with discharge planned in the coming months.

The Future

Mum’s needs going forward are a little overwhelming - which is why we’re (regrettably) asking for help.

When Mum leaves hospital, she’s going to need a home that works for her new reality - somewhere fully accessible, with the right equipment, the right layout, and the right tools to make daily life possible and comfortable. She’ll also need a specialist powered wheelchair, a wheelchair-adapted vehicle so she can get out and about, and a whole range of technology that helps her communicate, move safely, and stay connected with the people she loves.

Some support will come through the NHS and local services, but there’s a long list of things that simply aren’t provided - the things that make a house liveable, that keep her engaged in the world, and that give her as much independence and dignity as she can have. That’s what this fundraiser is for.

Every donation here is being given specifically to help with things like:

These funds aren’t intended to replace or top up any care the NHS, Continuing Healthcare or the local authority are responsible for providing. They’re for everything around that - the things that genuinely change the way she’ll be able to live.

How the Funds Will Be Used

All donations are being held and administered by us, her children, for the specific purposes listed above. Funds will not be transferred into Mum’s personal accounts. They will only ever be used for the restricted purposes donors are giving towards.

We are keeping a clear record of spending and will continue to update everyone on how donations are being used to support Mum’s environment, independence, and wellbeing.

Thank You

We know this has been a bit of a ramble, so if you’ve made it to the end - thank you.

We’re hugely grateful that we still have our mum. We just want to make the rest of her life as comfortable, safe, and connected as possible.

If you’re able to donate, thank you. It will genuinely make a meaningful difference.

If you can’t, sharing this page still helps enormously.

And if you want to see Mum in her element, here she is singing alongside our Dad at Ronnie Scott’s in 1993 - a reminder of who she is beyond her injury.

Thank you,

Georgina & Jackson