Katy's story
The following is a first-hand account from a former patient about the journey that led her to Holy Cross.
Bedbound, wracked with pain and stripped of hope - How intense inpatient rehabilitation transformed my life
In August 2023, Katy was enjoying a holiday in Spain with her husband, Tony, when she was suddenly struck by an intense pain which was later diagnosed as a spontaneous fracture of her third lumbar vertebrae. What followed was a series of misguided treatment decisions - first in Spain and later in the UK - that left Katy bedridden with multiple and complex spinal injuries, fighting two episodes of sepsis, stripped of hope, and facing the prospect of spending the rest of her days in a care home, bedbound and incontinent.
Everything seemed lost until Tony discovered Holy Cross - a turning point that would change everything.
After enduring eight weeks treatment in Spain and 20 weeks of treatment and rehabilitation in the UK, Katy was unable to stand or walk, her knees were permanently locked together except when separated by extreme physical force, she was incontinent, unable to independently wash or clean herself and wracked by extreme neuropathic pain caused by spinal stenosis, crush fractures and a long-term condition called Chemical Adhesive Arachnoiditis. Her pain was so intense that even the most powerful painkillers failed to control it.
Former nurse Katy knew that her UK care team’s recommended treatment of bed rest and standard physiotherapy was not suitable for her complex and inoperable injuries. Despite repeated requests for hydrotherapy, which is beneficial for patients who are unable to weight bear, Katy’s wishes were ignored.
Katy and Tony were so desperate and the situation became so bad that they felt they had no choice but to take matters into their own hands.
“In March 2024, I began researching specialist rehabilitation centres that could accommodate Katy’s needs which included providing 24/7 nursing care, a team of skilled neuro physiotherapists who could carry out hydrotherapy to build leg, back and upper body strength and an ethos of patient centred care,” says Tony.
“After hearing about Holy Cross from a nursing friend, I contacted them and enquired about options for self-funded care. For the first time in seven months, their response left me with a glimmer of hope.”
Following conversations with the Director of Patient Services, a provisional contract was agreed which included progress check points and assessment reports. Before Katy could be offered a place, Holy Cross needed a referral from her existing care provider and to carry out their own inpatient assessment.
Katy says: “On 18 April 2024, a senior neuro physiotherapist from Holy Cross visited me in hospital to carry out an assessment. It was a salutary moment to receive confirmation from a third party that my condition was as poor and damaged as we suspected. Hearing him say they would ‘salvage what they could’ was a verdict that came as a shock to both Tony and I but, at the same time, it was a relief that at long last somebody was being honest with me. This helped to establish a confidence and trust in the physio that continued to grow and helped us to bond.”
Just 24-hours after the assessment, Tony and Katy received the welcome news that Katy was going to Holy Cross.
On 22 April, Katy was taken by ambulance to Holy Cross. She says: “I remember the ambulance crawling along. I felt very frightened, was in a lot of pain and very apprehensive. Some of my fears were allayed by the obvious preparation that had gone into my arrival and knowing in advance the names of the senior nurses and their roles. It was reassuring to know that they were ready for me, plans were in place, and everyone was eager to help with smiling faces.”
She says: “Within an hour of being at Holy Cross, four physios arrived in my room so we could get to work. They had clearly researched Arachnoiditis and had prepared a tailored treatment plan just for me. Everything relating to my range of movement was measured, recorded, photographed and documented. Photos were taken of how I should be positioned in bed and transferred to a wheelchair. These photos were put up on the wall in my room, so everybody knew the plan. The attention to detail was impressive and truly professional.”
Katy’s first physio session involved the team cautiously and carefully working on her legs to stretch and slowly ease her knees apart. To prevent Katy’s knees from snapping back together, a semi solid foam shaped T – named by Tony as the medieval T-bar - was used to retain the gain.
Tony recalls how the first 48 hours were difficult, and he wondered whether Katy would be able to tolerate the rehabilitation. Katy says: “There’s no doubt that it was hard for me and painful, but I built a lovely rapport with my therapists. I knew it was going to be tough and that there is often no gain without pain. The difference at Holy Cross is that after a painful treatment, I was comforted by the staff, and I found this helped the hurt to wear off more rapidly and I recovered very quickly.”
On 1 May, Katy was booked to attend her first hydrotherapy session. Although this was the rehabilitation treatment that she knew she needed, Katy was terrified of being in the water. She says: “I had always been a strong swimmer and even swam for the County when I was at school but the idea of being in the water when I was unable to walk was frightening to say the least. Fortunately, the team had thought ahead and anticipated my fear and during that first session I had three physiotherapists looking after me. They supported me and held me, making swirling movements with my body – it felt wonderful, and my confidence grew.”
With a clear plan in place, Katy was gradually able to do more and more in the hydrotherapy pool. She relearned how to stand in water, walk, and step on and off a block. Tony remembers seeing Katy take her first steps in the pool. He says: “It was a wonderful sight. Katy didn’t even realise she was walking unaided - she was walking in the pool with the assistance of a physio and gradually they released their hold and Katy kept walking. At all times the physio was there, ready to catch her should it be necessary.”
Alongside the hydrotherapy, Katy also had a gym-based rehabilitation programme which included neuro physiotherapy, stretches and exercises. She says: “The gym work was helpful but harder. I liked using the cycle machine but found the gym sessions increased my pain, which is common in Arachnoiditis patients. The physio team responded to my situation by increasing the number of hydrotherapy sessions and reducing the gym work. This made a big difference. I made rapid progress which reduced my pain and enabled a very powerful painkiller with horrible side effects to be removed from my treatment regimen.”
By mid-July, Katy was able to swim several lengths of the pool and surface dive to collect items from the pool floor. She had also learned a vital bridging skill which meant she could enter and exit the pool at the corners without always needing the pool hoist.
Summing up her stay at Holy Cross, Katy says: “Holy Cross gave me happiness and a sense of self. From the hairdresser who helped recover my hair - boosting my self-esteem - to the chef who visited daily to discuss the next meal options and food quality. The nurses were outstanding. Day or night, they responded quickly to the call bell, happy to meet my needs. With their help I regained my continence. Everybody was always so willing, and it is down to their hard work and belief in me that I now have a life.”
Towards the end of her stay at Holy Cross, Katy felt well enough to put into words the awfulness and the absolute happiness of the previous year by writing this deeply personal poem.
Exactly a year to the day after arriving at Holy Cross, Katy’s dream of being fit enough to return to Spain came true. On 22 April 2025, she could be found sitting under the blue Spanish sky in hot sunshine with friends enjoying a party and paella in her honour. She continues to receive hydrotherapy which is important as it helps her maintain her strength so she can transfer from her wheelchair and sit on the sofa, eat at the table and use the bathroom.
Asked how she managed to remain so resilient throughout her ordeal, Katy says her close friend puts it down to her being a ‘very strong lady’, but Katy puts it down to love. She says: “I had Tony who visited every day. We’ve been together for over 50 years and have two wonderful daughters. It is love that kept me going.”
If you have read Katy’s story and think Holy Cross could help you or somebody in your life, please contact us to enquire about our inpatient rehabilitation packages. We accept NHS referrals and self-funding patients.
Contact Gina Guo, Director of Patient Services or Jo Cooling, Clinical Therapy Administrator on 01428 643311 or email [email protected]t or [email protected].