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 C6-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 she leaves hospital, she will need a fully accessible home, specialist equipment, a powered wheelchair, a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, ongoing physiotherapy and occupational therapy, and 24-hour care for the rest of her life. She’ll need help with every part of daily living - getting out of bed, washing, dressing, eating, and moving safely.
We do expect some government support (though we still don’t know how much), but there will be significant ongoing costs that fall entirely on us as a family. To give Mum the stability and quality of life she now depends on, we’re trying to raise £50,000.
What Your Donation Will Help Provide
Your support will go towards:
* A specialist powered wheelchair
* A wheelchair-accessible vehicle
* Essential medical and respiratory equipment
* Additional therapy and rehabilitation
* Accessibility adaptations
* Assistive technology
* Long-term care and support as her needs evolve
Your help will directly shape the rest of her life.
How the Funds Will Be Used
All funds will be managed by us, her family, and used solely for her care, equipment, therapy, home adaptations, and ongoing support. We’re working closely with her clinical team to make sure every penny goes exactly where it’s needed.
We’ll continue to post updates on how she’s doing, and how donations are being used.
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 at Ronnie Scott’s in 1993 - a reminder of who she is beyond her injury.
Thank you,
Georgina & Jackson