Tonys FES Cycle Fund

Our friend Tony Gowland was fit and well before visiting an osteopath for back pain following a footie injury in July 2012. A few days later Tony collapsed unconscious. In A & E the first CT scan that Tony received was incorrectly reported as normal, when it actually showed early signs of a stroke. A second scan showed Basilar artery Thrombosis and dissection (tear), probably as a result from the neck manipulation given by the osteopath (artery dissection happens rarely following neck manipulation).

Due to the first scan being reported incorrectly there was a missed opportunity to give clot busting treatment within the ideal four hour period, this was then followed by a long delay (10 hours post admission) to transfer Tony to a specialist neurosurgery unit, where a third scan showed infarction of the brain stem resulting in "Locked in Syndrome". Tony spent a total of 13 months in hospital, 11 of which were in Walkergate Park neuro-rehab unit.

Then Mary, Tony’s wonderful wife decided that she wanted to care for Tony at home. Mary, a qualified nurse said there were lots of reasons to take Tony home, here were just 3:-

1. He’s the love of my life and nobody can look after him as well as me

2. I knew Tony would make more progress at home

3. To maintain some normality at home for us and our now 16 year old son Robbie


Bringing Tony home meant a lot of changes to their home. Parts of the house were renovated to allow access for Tony’s wheelchair. They had to make a room downstairs for Tony to sleep and include a wet room. They had to install ceiling tracks for an electronic hoist to help lift Tony into his chair or into the shower. They had to buy a mobility car to take the large wheelchair that Tony gets around in.


Now at home both Mary and Tony work hard every day with a range of exercises and the use of a tilt table to keep the muscles moving and to help Tony stretch. When funds allow Tony also has physiotherapy sessions to improve his movement. Mary told us – “Despite Doctors saying Tony had plateaued on discharge, with a lot of hard work and determination he has continued to make slow, steady progress. He has good head movement plus he can use a switch to access a communication device. This would not have been possible without the brilliant neuro physio who provides a home programme for Tony to follow and has been funded by money raised by Tony’s friends and family.”

Recently, via Facebook Mary heard about a company called Anatomical Concepts and a product called a Rehamove Fes Cycle. This cycle has helped other sufferers of Locked In Syndrome to gain movement that they didn’t have before. Recently Tony was able to trial this product with amazing results. Mary told us “Tony did really well in a recent FES cycle assessment which demonstrates that Tony does have muscle activity everywhere that could be improved and become functional with regular use of the FES cycle i.e. life changing!”

FES cycle.


It is possible to buy this product and to give Tony the possibility of movement every day. With this product and Tony’s determination who knows what the future could hold. The money we are raising on this page will help Tony on his road to recovery. If we reach the £12,000 then this will be used to purchase the bike.
Any further money raised will go towards extra physiotherapy sessions and caring for Tony at home.

"Thanks for taking an interest in my story. I wasn't
expecting what happened to me but as John Lennon once said – 'Life is what comes along when you are least expecting it.'

Thanks again and here's to pedalling  the bike to success!"

Tony