Recipients of Challenge-TM funds.
Gill Rowe from Hampshire (2022/23).
Gill was assisted with weekly therapy sessions at Hobbs Rehabilitation for a period of three months at the end of 2022. In her own words:
“I was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis in November 2004, this left me with weakness below my waist which affected all the muscle power and ability to walk as normal. I did have private physiotherapy for many years which helped me to maintain my mobility even when I had 2 knee and 2 hip replacements. I worked hard at the exercises, plus doing weekly classes in Pilates and hydrotherapy. All this came to a stop in 2019 due to Covid and despite my best efforts I began to deteriorate. At the end of 2021 I had the first three Covid vaccinations and the third one caused a huge reaction and all my TM returned leaving me very weak once more.
I have had some really excellent physiotherapy over the last few weeks. I desperately needed neurological physio once more and this is when Ted offered to help me with the cost of weekly physio at a specialist centre.
I have made good progress and have regained my strength and am working on my balance now, my walking has improved and my confidence has grown. All this wouldn’t have happened without Ted’s help and equally important my determination to follow up the physio with the exercises each day”.
Diane Wooller from Essex was the first recipient of funds from Challenge-TM in February 2022.
Here is Di’s story (in her own words):
“I woke up on 11th September 2021 with numbness in my left leg. I ended up in hospital an hour later with paralysis from the waist down. Corda equina syndrome was ruled out and I was initially misdiagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome. Eventually, 3 weeks in (after yet another MRI) I was told I have transverse myelitis. I had never heard of it before – despite being a qualified nurse. I thought I would never walk again. A friend of mine, Kevin, asked on Twitter if anyone knew anything about this condition. Ted Reddick replied. We spoke on the phone several times – which helped me to understand the condition and what I needed to do as, up until then, I had just paid for private physio 3 times a week as I had no help whatsoever from the NHS (basically I was discharged home with a walking frame and shower chair!) Ted kindly recommended Hobbs Rehabilitation – with whom he had been treated – and offered to assist with the costs of my treatment. I had two weeks intensive neurological physiotherapy at the Hobbs facility in Lambourn, Berkshire as an inpatient. Ted had raised money to help people like myself and paid for half of my fees. I will be forever grateful as now I walk unaided – a bit wobbly – and I have returned to work as a Community Matron.”
Emma from Hertfordshire was helped in April 2022.
This is Emma’s story:
“I’m 33 and developed TM in September 2015 whilst suffering from dengue hemorrhagic fever, which I caught from a mosquito bite whilst in Myanmar.
TM affected everything from my ability to walk to ability to hold cutlery to eat a meal. I’ve worked very hard on my physical recovery for many hours each week since and in some areas have seen huge improvements, but less improvements in my extremities. It also really affects my energy and function, I now have to plan and limit how much I do each day to prevent physical decline (and keep up a good exercise regime).
I used to work as an artist and designer but since the TM have really struggled with anything that involves hand function. I’ve worked on developing this with the aim of returning to life as an artist for over 5 years. Returning to any form of employment has been a major obstacle for me, despite trying repeatedly. But last year, after some guidance I decided to re train in something that could be used to help others following life changing injuries or illness, and wasn’t as physically demanding. So I am currently training to become a life coach, and I hope to be able to primarily use this in charity settings using my own background to help others with their recovery. I have been doing some volunteering with a charity called Climbing Out which provides coaching through activity courses, I hope to join them again later this year when I’m in a better position myself physically.
In January this year (2022) I suffered some sort of setback (still to be investigated). This affected both my legs and my walking especially. At Christmas I’d been able to climb two mountains for charity with other disabled people but at the end of January I was struggling to walk a few steps from my bed to the bathroom at home. I knew, from past experience, that whatever was wrong physiotherapy would be the route to helping me get back to walking again as this is particularly important to me – as one of my main hobbies is being in the mountains. I’m actually training to become a mountain leader (although that’s on hold due to current health) to allow me to help more disabled people access the mountains.
I undertook a month of sessions twice weekly at Prime Physio. At Prime they helped identify the muscle groups that need most work to get me walking with more stability. We used a combination of FES, gait drills, and strengthening exercises to improve my walking. My walking has definitely improved, particularly when trying to carry objects, I was losing my balance a lot and now I can walk and carry objects. I have managed to go from needing two canes to one cane outside and no canes inside.
The input from Prime has also helped my gym training enormously too, which allows me to now tackle bigger challenges. I now have a better understanding of the muscle groups I need to focus on, and ways to prepare my body for movement. I am so grateful to Ted and the Challenge-TM fund for helping me through a really tough time when my TM had impacted my walking so greatly. Although my recovery will be lifelong I now know what to keep working on to get stronger and move better from this relapse.”
Update in August 2023:
“Over the past year since the intensive physio intervention I have not had any major health setbacks, which has allowed me to continue to get stronger and rebuild wasted muscle. My walking has returned to 75% of what it was before my last TM setback. In turn this has allowed me to get back into hiking occasionally, and also run walks for others with disabilities who struggle to spend time in nature safely. I am continuing with my life coaching studies and hope to qualify by the end of the year, which will allow me to start helping others in a professional capacity.”
Keith Kwenda from Croydon was helped in June 2023.
“I first began noticing symptoms of TM (although I didn’t know it was TM at the time) towards the end of 2021. It was a memorable experience as it happened while I was at the gym, trying to have a decent workout. I started on the treadmill, but suddenly, my leg began to drag every few steps I tried to run. I immediately sensed that something was wrong, and I knew this was not normal. Little did I know that the next 20 months would be a challenging journey for my health.
Dealing with TM meant I couldn’t continue with my work duties at that time, leaving me feeling like I had lost everything. Simple day-to-day tasks became a struggle, and I was grappling with symptoms that I didn’t realise were related to TM.
Then, in late 2023, thanks to the support of my partner, I discovered the TM Society and that’s when my journey towards recovery began with physio. Although physiotherapy was helpful, it involved a lot of travel. It was during this time that I had the pleasure of meeting Ted through the TM Society and hearing his inspiring story – of how he overcame his challenges – gave me hope.
June 2023 marked the beginning of the most important period of my life. I attended rehabilitation sessions at Oaksey House in Berkshire for 2 weeks, dedicating myself to intense physio five days a week. Challenge-TM paid for the full treatment package and, after a grueling fortnight of consistent effort, my main focus is continuing the work that was started. Working with the amazing physiotherapists’ and occupational therapists (from Hobbs Rehabilitation) has improved my balance, walking, overall health and well-being. I’ve made remarkable progress, surpassing what I thought was possible during the worst times of my TM. Rediscovering myself and feeling motivated has instilled a belief that I can one day regain my full health.
I owe a heartfelt thanks to Ted and his Challenge TM company for helping me reach a better place in my life. With his support, I am now in a position to work hard and strive to become the best version of myself.”
Moyra McDermott from Bolton has received regular contributions for neuro rehabilitation since November 2022.
Moyra was paralysed from the midriff down when she was first diagnosed with TM in April 2011. After many years with little or no support Moyra secured some regular physiotherapy through the NHS but:
“It was a blow when my physiotherapist, Mat Bush, left the NHS. I contacted him and asked if he would take me on as a private patient. He accepted and I have had weekly sessions with him ever since. Without that weekly input and encouragement, I would have fallen away I believe in naturally doing the workouts and exercise myself. Knowing you must account for what you have done each week is an excellent incentive. I am stronger and better physically and mentally for regular physiotherapy.
Through the Zoom meetings with the TM Society, I met Ted and became aware of the enormous effort he had made to raise awareness and funds to help people with Transverse Myelitis and related neurological conditions.
Ted had raised funds and wanted to help fellow sufferers. So, for the first time, I asked for help and, after consultation with Mat Bush, Ted kindly and generously agreed to fund my physiotherapy sessions each week from November 2022.
I am very grateful as the funding Ted has raised and awarded to me has meant I can confidently carry on with my physiotherapy.
THANK YOU, TED REDDICK, FOR YOUR GENEROSITY, MEANING THANKS FOR EVERYTHING.”