Physiotherapy is key - your generosity makes it possible

In December 2025, at just 37 years old, our much-loved family member, Jamie, husband of Lucy and dad to two young daughters Olivia and Lyla, suffered a catastrophic stroke that changed his life in an instant. Now aged 38, he is facing an incredibly long and challenging road to recovery.

The stroke left him with paralysis down one side of his body, and he has since undergone four complex brain surgeries, the most recent of these being a cranioplasty to rebuild his skull in May 2026. Jamie is now having to relearn the most basic of human functions — including to walk again. What many of us take for granted has become a daily battle requiring immense strength, patience, and determination. We have all been completely amazed to this point at Jamie's strength and the physical progress he is making every day.

This devastating event comes on top of a lifelong struggle with epilepsy, which Jamie has lived with since the age of 7. Following one seizure in 2018, Jamie underwent surgery for a broken back, learning to walk again.Since the stroke, he has also experienced further seizures, adding another layer of complexity and risk to his recovery.

Over the past 5 months, Jamie has been cared for across three hospitals — The Royal Stoke Hospital, New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton, and West Park Rehabilitation Hospital, where he has been treated on both Ward 1 and the Neuro-Rehabilitation Unit (NRU). Throughout this time, he has endured unimaginable physical pain, along with deep emotional and psychological challenges.

The hardest challenge of all for Jamie, who is a kind and caring, family-orientated person, is being separated from his young family; his wife Lucy and two daughters Olivia and Lyla — a loss of everyday moments he so desperately wants to be a part of. The emotional toll of missing out on his role as a husband and parent has been truly heartbreaking.

Lucy has worked tirelessly to get Jamie back home for visits (she has to take him on the bus as he can't yet transfer from his wheelchair into a car). We as family members try to support by fetching Jamie's medication, splints etc from the hospital and bringing them home. Lucy has single-handedly rearranged their home to enable Jamie to sleep downstairs, and stays up through the night with him to carry out his personal care. Lucy has learned how to use the mo-lift, administer his personal medication, carry out bladder washes, and do his injections. Lucy has been there and fought with and for Jamie every step of the way, which she will continue to do, whilst also needing to consider returning to work in the near future. The transport costs to Lucy, even with family's help, have become a significant strain. The family live in a small 2-bed house, with a downstairs toilet, but no shower facilities.

Despite everything, his courage and determination to recover remain unwavering. However, the next phase of his journey will require intensive, ongoing physiotherapy and care once he leaves hospital — support that is essential for giving him the best possible chance at regaining independence and rebuilding his life.

Unfortunately, this level of rehabilitation comes at a significant financial cost.

Jamie hates to ask for help, (and we all know how stubborn he can be at times!) However, in discussion with Jamie, Lucy and the whole family, we know this is the right time to reach out to our wider community. We are asking for your support to help fund the specialist physiotherapy and care he urgently needs.

Every contribution, no matter how small, will make a meaningful difference in giving him hope, strength, and the opportunity to reclaim his future.

Thank you for taking the time to read Jamie's story and for any support you are able to give. ❤️