Life Before the Accident

At 55, Brendan was living a full and busy life. Alongside running two successful businesses with his wife, he enjoyed an active lifestyle - motocross, snowboarding, mountain biking, and outdoor adventures with his dogs. With his children nearly grown, he had time to dedicate to personal hobbies and family.

The Accident

In October 2024, Brendan travelled to California to compete in the World Veteran Motocross Championship. On a practice track, he misjudged a jump and landed badly. His bike flipped, resulting in:

  • C2 spinal cord injury with C3/4 retrolisthesis
  • Right cerebellum stroke
  • Cardiac arrest at the scene
  • Multiple fractures (ribs, clavicle, distal wrist)
  • Right brachial plexus injury

A defibrillator at the track failed, and he required seven minutes of CPR, which resulted in multiple rib fractures. The track on which Brendan was riding is situated on Native American land, and his life was saved by members of the local tribe. He was transferred to a medical centre, where he underwent surgery within 50 minutes, performed by a neurosurgeon using a Da Vinci robotic system, and spent ten days in intensive care. Brendan has little memory of this period, though he does recall his repatriation to the UK. On arrival at Stansted Airport, he was met by a man with an Essex accent who reassured him that he was safely home, before he was taken to critical care at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

On arrival at Addenbrooke’s, Brendan was ventilated and cared for by what he describes as an “incredible team”. They helped wean him off the ventilator in early December and supported his move to a rehabilitation ward, where he began sitting up and even tried Pilates.

Reflecting on that period, he says: “I didn’t have a clue what my next step was, which was unusual for me. I am a man who always has a plan, but I didn’t know how to function.”

On 27th December, Brendan was transferred to Stoke Mandeville, where the focus was on ensuring a safe discharge home. Determined to walk again, he reached out to his cousin, a neurophysiotherapist, who recommended STEPS Rehabilitation. At that stage, he was still being tube-fed and not medically stable enough to transfer. Once the tube was removed, he recalls that events “happened at pace”: after a Zoom assessment with Ashley, the Referrals & Admissions Co-ordinator he was admitted to STEPS Rehabilitation the following week.

Early Access to STEPS Rehabilitation and Pain Management

Thanks to his private medical insurance, Brendan accessed STEPS Rehabilitation in February 2025, just four months after his accident, for a six-month programme. He arrived on a stretcher and was entirely dependent. His right hand was exquisitely painful and hypersensitive, making it unusable, while his left hand had limited movement and he required full assistance with self-care. Sleep disruption, pain, and fatigue limited engagement with rehabilitation.

Dr Liz Iveson, Consultant in Stroke and Neuro Rehabilitation explains:

“When Brendan arrived at STEPS, he was struggling to access rehabilitation due to pain and fatigue. We needed to manage his pain effectively to allow him to engage with all the therapies on offer and to gain his trust with medication.”

On first meeting, Dr Iveson recalls:

“He was a man who wasn’t going to accept his injuries and polytrauma. He was highly motivated and focused, used to living life at a fast pace, and determined not to give up.”

A tailored pain management plan, including medication adjustments and therapies such as hydrotherapy, TENS, massage, desensitisation, and occupational therapy, enabled Brendan to gradually reduce opioids and participate fully in rehabilitation. Dr Iveson notes:

“From experience, better sleep, fatigue management, and pain control are crucial to enable someone to access intensive rehabilitation.”

Over six months, Brendan’s pain reduced dramatically, enabling him to regain functional use of both hands, improve mobility, and participate fully in all aspects of rehabilitation. Reflecting on his journey, Dr Iveson notes:

“From our first meeting, it was clear he had great potential. His improvement over six months has been staggering — down to his motivation and the holistic approach to his care.”

Reflecting on his progress, she says:

“Brendan is now walking, talking and independent in all activities and daily living, he’s also done the Park Run! When you speak to him, the overriding thing he says, is how lucky he was – to get access to this degree of rehabilitation. His medical cover enabled him to access rehabilitation, that otherwise wouldn’t have been available. He has made the progress he has made, because he has had access to STEPS Rehabilitation.”

Rehabilitation Journey

Brendan’s overriding goal was clear: “I’m walking back out.” From day one, he was highly motivated, goal-oriented, and determined not to accept the limitations others suggested. His personal ambitions: walking his dog, cooking for his wife, even training for a Park Run, shaped every step of his rehabilitation.

Soon after arriving at STEPS, Brendan was de-catheterised and regained independence with continence, a significant milestone. From that point, his rehabilitation programme “ramped up month by month” and he worked “harder and harder”, with five or six therapy sessions a day. “There was always someone to talk to, always something to do — you never get bored at STEPS!”

His timetable included physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, balance and functional upper limb groups, MyoPro sessions, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, neurologic music therapy, art therapy, gym sessions, and psychological support, all structured to address specific recovery goals.

“Nothing was off the table – I was having a go!”

Hannah, his physiotherapist, says:

“Brendan is incredibly determined and set his own goals. Since day 1 he has been goal-orientated, wanting to prove people wrong, and does everything in his power to make it happen.”

Specialist Rehabilitation Physiotherapist – Kosta Falidas

Brendan sustained an incomplete spinal cord injury and a brachial plexus injury on his right arm. As Kostas explains, “Brendan’s signals still go through his body — he can move his legs and has some movement in his arms. Early rehabilitation was crucial to help him maximise his recovery.”

When he first arrived at STEPS, Brendan presented with:

  • Right upper limb – severely reduced mobility, with no active wrist or finger movement
  • Lower limbs – unable to stand or transfer independently
  • Left upper limb – some functional capacity though limited strength

The key priorities for Brendan’s rehabilitation were to restore mobility, transfers, and confidence, as well as to improve upper limb strength and range of motion. As Kostas recalls, “The first priority was a thorough assessment to understand Brendan and create the best treatment plan. Main goals were restoring mobility and transfers, building confidence, and improving upper limb strength and function.”

Rehabilitation Progress Over Six Months

In just 6 months, Brendan has achieved independent transfers, walking, stair mobility, and regained functional use of his right arm. He also re-engaged with community activities, like walking his dogs, cooking, and Park Run training.

The Rehabilitation Technologies at STEPS have also played a key role:

  • MyoPro: reorganised neural pathways, restored arm function
  • Bioness FES: stimulated lower limb muscles for gait and balance
  • MindPod: immersive therapy that enhanced upper limb coordination and motivation

Kostas highlights:

“Brendan’s use of neurotechnology, combined with physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and hydrotherapy, allowed him to restore upper limb function and build strength.”

Rehabilitation Technology

Brendan was the first client at STEPS to trial the MyoPro Mark 2 after he was invited by Jamie Storey, Lead Physiotherapist, to take part in the manufacturers’ training session when the device first arrived. He used it throughout his stay and credits it with transforming his arm function. The Bioness was also a vital part of his rehabilitation, helping to correct not only new challenges but even pre-existing injuries. The RehabHub proved especially valuable for his brachial plexus injury and lack of movement.

The Mindmaze MindPod, however, had the most unexpected impact. Brendan went in with an open mind but describes it as “touching my heart” at a time when his body wasn’t responding as he wanted, and constant pain was wearing him down. Immersed in sound and light, he recalls: “When the dolphin appeared and said it was there to heal me, I wanted to cry. I thought, ‘You’re exactly what I need.’” During one session, he found himself standing without being prompted and using his right arm instinctively. It reminded him of a family trip years earlier to Florida, where his children swam with a dolphin that had been fitted with a prosthetic tail — a powerful connection he now links to his own recovery journey.

Community and Daily Life

Beyond the therapies, Brendan highlights the community at STEPS as one of the most powerful parts of the experience. “It’s not just the other clients; it’s everyone, from the rehabilitation assistants to the kitchen team. Everybody knows your name, what you’ve been doing, what you’re supposed to be doing. It’s incredible.” He describes the atmosphere as inspiring, with clients encouraging and cheering each other on in the gym; sharing stories and their own rehabilitation journeys in the café.

Communal eating became an important part of his routine, not sitting on a ward without privacy, but joining others downstairs, with the freedom to invite guests. Having his wife and even his dog visit gave him a huge lift. For his wife, too, it was a turning point, “for the first time she felt able to leave, knowing I was being properly cared for.” And for Brendan, one of his secondary goals — cooking for his wife again — became reality in the Transitional Living Unit, where he could prepare meals as part of his therapy. “It filled in all the gaps,” he says, “not just for my body, but for my sense of wellbeing, mind, spirit and soul.”

Horatio’s Garden and Meeting Royalty

In July, Brendan was honoured to be invited by Toria and Jules to attend the opening of Horatio’s Garden at the Princess Royal Spinal Injuries Centre, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield. Having spent time in the Stoke Mandeville garden, he already knew how uplifting the space could be, however this occasion was particularly memorable. He had the privilege of meeting Princess Anne, “I got to shake her hand, and she asked me about gardening.”

Returning Home

As Brendan’s discharge date approached, he noticed a definite shift in his rehabilitation. “This last month it’s felt like things have taken a turn,” he reflects. “Not only have the staff prepared me to go home, but I’ve prepared myself too. Mentally, I feel ready.”

In one of his later goal-setting meetings, the team reviewed the ambitions he had set early on, most of which were now close to being achieved. When asked if there was anything else he wanted to aim for, Brendan half-jokingly suggested a Parkrun. True to form, his joke quickly became a challenge. With training support from physiotherapist assistant, Pete, Brendan prepared for the 5km course at Millhouses Park, Sheffield.

And on Saturday 2nd August 2025, just nine months after being told he would never walk again, Brendan completed the Parkrun, cheered on by family, friends, fellow clients, and members of the STEPS team. “I was hoping to come in under the hour,” he says, “but really the goal was to cross the finish line together. One of the others was in a wheelchair, another with a prosthetic leg — we all finished side by side, regardless of time.”

Looking back, Brendan can clearly see the progress he has made: “From where I was on 21st October, being resuscitated, to where I was in February, and now — it’s way, way, way better.” His spinal injuries consultant, Mr Thumbikat, has reassured him that improvements should continue over the next 12 to 18 months, provided he keeps putting in the work. Brendan is realistic about the challenges and optimistic about the future: “I know I don’t get away scot-free with this, but I see no reason why I can’t get my life back.”

“From being in a chair and struggling to do transfers, to now being a confident guy walking around STEPS – he’s found Brendan again, and sense of self through his journey.” – Hannah Wright

He is also keen to share advice with others facing similar journeys: “Be wary of labels. I never wanted false hope — I didn’t want people to tell me I’d be fine if I wasn’t. What I wanted was the chance to try, and for people to listen. If you let me, I can go to the toilet; if you let me, I can stand up. Being labelled a a quadriplegic doesn’t mean it’s all over. Refuse to turn around. Believe it — it can happen.”