Community Stories: Clare’s Journey with JLinks and Sally’s Twiddle Muffs

When we asked for Recovery Stories from our community, Clare was one of the first to contribute. She told us she could write “pages and pages” about how Kate Conneally (Senior Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist) has helped her so far.

Here is her inspirational story of therapy and re-learning to walk.

My Journey with J Links - Clare Goldsmith

My journey with J Links started in October 2023, following my discharge from hospital.

A Holiday that Changed Everything

When I experienced some weakness and wobbliness in my legs in 2023, as a busy Assistant Headteacher, I thought it was due to being overloaded at the end of the academic year.

However, in August of that year, during my family holiday in Turkey, my legs became progressively weaker. One night, they completely collapsed under me.

I spent two weeks in two different hospitals in Turkey, and then I was flown by air ambulance back to the hospital in London, where I spent another month. My final diagnosis after a huge raft of neurological tests was an arteriovenous fistula on the spine – an AVF – which is extremely rare.

An AVF is an abnormal connection that has developed between an artery and a vein. This sends blood in the wrong direction and causes spinal inflammation and a lack of blood supply below the level of injury, resulting in immediate weakness of the muscles. Although I could move my legs, I could not bear any weight whatsoever on them. It was incredibly frightening!

The fistula was, fortunately, completely cured through a procedure called embolisation. My neurosurgeon then advised that intense neurorehabilitation was needed to build strength and balance back.

Choosing J Links Physiotherapy

After exploring options for neurophysiotherapy, I had a telephone consultation with Jo from J Links Physiotherapy. Speaking with Jo was by far the most encouraging and positive experience. She listened intently and discussed how J Links could help me regain my mobility and life.

Within a few days of discharge, I met the wonderful Kate Conneally at home. After an initial assessment, we got straight to work. What I’ve been so impressed with (apart from Kate’s extensive knowledge) is her incredibly high expectations of what I can achieve.

At that point in October 2023, I was living downstairs with a bed and carers four times a day. That first week, Kate arrived with her yoga mat and said that we were going to practise getting down onto the mat and up again using the sofa. I thought she was bonkers as I felt there was no way I could do this. But I did it!

Milestones

From then, we started building back strength, and by December, I could walk to my local shops and back again using a four-wheeled rollator. Next was the big milestone of walking upstairs independently and into my own bedroom, which I achieved the day before Christmas Eve!

There have been many more milestones and lots of laughs on the way so far.

At the start, I had several devices to assist me, but Kate encouraged me to send them back when she saw they were no longer needed. Kate also motivated me to get back to the gym and to the pool, which has been incredible in developing my strength, balance and walking ability.

Under her guidance, I can now ride a tricycle around the park and walk in the woods with walking sticks, stepping over branches and roots. Sessions have been hard work but great fun, combining strength, balance, gait and functional training.

Recently, I started being able to cook hot meals for my son again and playing table tennis outside. My son is very happy to see his Mum returning, bit by bit.

At the end of October 2024, I started taking my first unaided steps again! This has been a HUGE milestone for me, and every week since then, the steps have increased. I’m able to walk around lots of different areas of my home now unaided. I can also walk half a kilometre in the pool unaided now, so big changes are really happening.

Looking Ahead: Stronger than Before

I’m so excited to think about where I’ll be in six months from now. I know that I’ll reach my ultimate goal, to walk unaided again, in the not-too-distant future. I firmly believe that I’ll be stronger and fitter at the end of this than I was before the event happened, and this is down to Kate. She constantly pushes me forward to achieve more every session towards meeting my end goal, which is now clearly in sight.

Relearning to walk is humbling, but the positivity, enthusiasm, belief and expertise which Kate brings to our sessions each week has made it an unforgettable experience which has changed my perspective on life for the better.

Thank you, Clare, for sharing your triumphant comeback story. We are proud of all you’ve achieved and hope it will inspire others to take the first step in their Physiotherapy Rehabilitation.

Have you worked with our incredible physiotherapy team?

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Sally’s Twiddle Muffs

Our community is rich with creativity! We have painters, crocheters, knitters, writers and more.

Creative outlets provide a positive focus beyond our physical challenges. Aside from helping us to maintain cognitive sharpness, fine motor skills and coordination, creative projects help us retain our identity and bring us joy.

Like many of us, Sally Till reconnected with an old pastime during Lockdown and hasn’t stopped since.

Knitting with Purpose - Sally’s Story

I started knitting as a child, but then, as life got busier in my twenties, I stopped.

During Lockdown, I had nothing else to do in the evenings, so I took up knitting again. I started with mug hugs, Christmas puddings (to cover chocolate oranges) and jumpers for my goddaughter.

Then, I progressed to Twiddle Muffs. Twiddle Muffs are a simple tube, using scrap yarn, covered with buttons to keep Dementia patients' hands busy, especially in a hospital setting.

I also knit one-of-a-kind handbags, lined with cotton fabrics and featuring attached handles.

As I'm recovering from cancer surgery, I've produced several woolly hats, and I've almost finished a jumper for Sophie, my goddaughter, who is 9 this month (October 2025)!

Thank you for sharing something so powerful, Sally. It is admirable that you continue to create for others while navigating your own recovery. This generosity of spirit perfectly reflects the Home Links ethos of using our talents to uplift those around us.

We hope you have found comfort and inspiration in our community stories today.

You can find more updates from our team in our Home Links Latest blog. Look out for information on how to get involved with Home Links Physiotherapy, including our new Thrive Club in Orpington Village Hall.