Jo’s story: Connection and community after spinal cord injury
5 May 2026
Meet Jo:
- Enjoys spending time with her husband and three teenage children
- Likes gardening and tending to her allotment
- Loves craft activities, such as crochet and sewing
Jo sustained a spinal cord injury in 2016 after a tree branch fell on her in the park. “I was having a picnic with my family when suddenly part of a tree snapped off and fell 30 feet. The branch landed on me, damaging my spinal cord at L3, fracturing my spine from L1-L4 and crushing my L5 vertebrae. I then went on to be additionally diagnosed with Cauda Equina Syndrome. I now walk with crutches and use a wheelchair when I’m in pain or fatigued.”
Immediately after her accident, she felt concerned about the future for her and her family. “There were lots of things racing through my mind. What had happened? Would we still be able to live in our house? I was also worried about my children seeing me in pain and the impact it could have on them.”
She was taken to Salford Royal Hospital for emergency surgery and was later transferred to the Southport spinal injuries centre to continue her rehabilitation. During her time in hospital, she discovered Back Up. “Whilst I was in the spinal unit, I started attending the charity’s wheelchair skills sessions. From there, I subscribed to their newsletter to learn more about the services they offered.”
After being discharged, Jo signed up for mentoring. “I was in a lonely place when I left hospital – everyone around me was sympathetic, but they couldn’t understand my experience. Mentoring was a real turning point for me.”
“I was assigned a mentor who had a similar injury to me, but they were further along in their journey. It was so helpful to be connected with someone who understood what I was going through and could help me move forwards in a way that worked for me.”
Later, she made use of our vocation services to work towards her employment goals. “Following my injury, I had to stop working – I lost my career and I was devastated. After a while, I felt ready to explore new opportunities with the support of Back Up.”
“I joined their Skills for Work course and Back to Work Bitesize webinars, which gave me useful guidance about areas including CV writing and interview techniques. I then went on to take part in their Coach to Work programme, where I learned to adjust my mindset, turning challenges into positives.”
Jo also regularly attends the Back Up Walker’s Lounge to connect with others. “Joining the Lounge helped me realise I’m not alone. Every two weeks, I catch up with people across the UK who are all in the same boat as me. We talk about topics related to spinal cord injury, such as bladder and bowel care, but we also talk about completely unrelated things. I’ve found my community there.”
Now, she’s encouraging and empowering others as a mentor. “I wanted to give back and help people find positivity after spinal cord injury. I speak to individuals at different stages of their journey, offering them practical guidance and emotional support – from information about doctors appointments to helping them smile on a tough day.”
When asked what advice she would give to others, Jo says, “My mantras are: accept, adapt and problem solve. You may not be able to do things how you used to, but with strength, tenacity, and a little help from Back Up, you will get there. Believe in yourself!”
