Tom was two weeks off finishing the second phase of his Royal Navy Training. Aged 17, he had the world at his feet. 

Tom was in Intensive Care for six months and could only move one hand. His family were told he’d never walk or talk again. Fifteen years later Tom walked past the Cenotaph during the National Service of Remembrance with people clapping him, and a band playing in his honour. His proud family and friends were reduced to floods of tears. This remarkable achievement was the culmination of a year of hard work by Tom and his Help for Heroes team. 

Life-changing support 

At the end of his statutory support Tom’s progress came to an abrupt halt; so his Mum Debbie and Dad John got in touch with us.  

A member of our veteran clinical services team, and former Army nurse, Julie-Anne, visited Tom at his home to assess his needs. 
 

Julie-Anne became Tom’s complex case manager. Her first task was to look for the most suitable neuro-rehabilitation placement. She found Hobbs, based in Hampshire, who now provide Tom with physiotherapy and speech and language therapy, all coordinated, monitored and funded by Help for Heroes.  

The sky’s the limit 

Tom, 32, now lives in a bungalow with round-the-clock care. 

Greg, his live-in carer, said: “Help for Heroes has always been on Tom’s side but for the last year they've really cranked it up. They're marvellous”. 

“The specialist physiotherapy has been particularly important. And Tom has seized this opportunity with both hands”. 

"His posture is so much better now. His back is straight. He's got so much more upper-body strength. Previously, if I sat him on the side of the bed, he'd simply fall back, and his legs would kick up in the air, but now he's got that strength in his spine to sit bolt upright". 

“He can walk for longer too. We did a walk in Winchester where he managed 40 minutes. A year ago he'd get tired after 10 minutes and want to sit down”. 

“The sky's the limit. Every day there’s progress. 
 

“I've never met anyone more determined than Tom. Whatever you ask him to do, he'll do it. 

“It’s a privilege to be part of his life. It's like an adventure. Who knows where we'll end up, but there's no question of Tom's resolve. 

“I don't consider this as work. It's just like staying with a mate and looking after them. We share the same passions, comedy, and jokes.” 
 

Food for thought 

Four times a week Greg and Tom prepare an evening meal together from scratch. They order the ingredients and spend up to an hour-and-a-half preparing it. 

Greg says: “Tom will stand at the kitchen side, which is good for him. I get him chopping vegetables and crushing garlic, and all of that is good for his dexterity and strength.  

“We go for high protein, healthy meals. And he’s becoming a really good cook.” 

When he started with Hobbs, Tom’s initial goal was to go to the toilet by himself – as up to that point someone had to hoist him up on to it.  

Tom has always wanted to achieve independence and utilising a hoist was not something he wanted to forever be reliant on. Tom has worked extremely hard to achieve this.  

An important part of rehabilitation is goal setting, but the goals need to be realistic and achievable. Goals which ultimately help Tom on a day-to-day basis, Tom had specifically said he wanted to stand at a bar and order a pint of Guiness, while chatting with the staff. Tom is a young man and sees this as something he can do with his friends which allows him to feel normal. 

Tom ticked this milestone off and continues to set goals to aim for in his recovery. 

Support that has changed his life 

Tom’s Mum Debbie said: “In the early days we had no hope of Tom achieving anything at all.
 

"We had days in the past where he didn't want to live. He couldn't understand why his legs wouldn't work. He’d say, 'Cut my legs off' or ‘Just shoot me’. We've had nothing like that recently. 

“The support from Help for Heroes’ No One Left Behind Campaign has changed his life. Tom has done the work. But it wouldn’t have happened without Julie-Anne. We couldn’t have afforded to pay for the extra therapy and support.” 

Tom’s Dad John said: “Help for Heroes has given Tom his purpose back.  

“Without a doubt, we’ve seen a resurgence in Tom’s fight and determination in the past year. 

“We worry what will happen to Tom when we’re no longer here. But it's a massive weight off our shoulders knowing that with the right funding Help for Heroes will be there for Tom even when we’re not around." 

Tom is one of 35 veterans on our very seriously injured programme. We're dedicated to providing high quality, intense and holistic support so the most ill and injured veterans, like Tom and his family, receive the vital support they deserve. But we know that there are more veterans out there who need this same support.