In August 2025, at just 18 years old, Tilly had a stroke completely out of the blue.
After being found by friends, she was taken by ambulance to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire, where she was seen immediately by the stroke team. Scans showed three blood clots in her brain. Two were removed straight away, one smaller clot remained, and one of the larger clots caused a stroke with significant brain injury.
Before this, Tilly was a healthy, active teenager.
Early recovery
In the days following her stroke, Tilly lost all verbal communication. She was on a purée diet and had no feeling down her right side. She spent two and a half weeks at UHCW receiving physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, and occupational therapy, before transferring to the specialist stroke ward at the Central England Rehabilitation Unit (CERU).
At CERU, Tilly spent around six weeks undergoing early rehabilitation. She required hoisting for ten days, and her progress was complicated when she developed postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), which limited how much therapy she could tolerate. Once her blood pressure was stabilised, her recovery began to progress more consistently.
“Tilly had daily therapy and the staff were incredibly motivational,” says her mum, Amelia, a retired social worker. “The experience there was very positive.”
Speech returned gradually, with Tilly using a pen and whiteboard to communicate for some time. By the time she was discharged home at the end of September, Tilly was medically stable but still facing significant challenges with confidence, independence, and functional recovery.
Life after discharge
Despite good acute and community care, on coming to Resilience Neuro Specialists, Tilly had reduced weight-bearing through her right leg, an asymmetrical gait pattern, foot drop, limited use of her right arm and hand, and reduced confidence in everyday activities. These difficulties were affecting her independence and participation, including returning to work, driving, and resuming her typical lifestyle.
Without further specialist intervention, there was a risk of long-term compensatory movement patterns and reduced functional recovery.
Tilly lives at home with her parents, Amelia and Paul, just ten minutes from the Resilience Therapy Centre. Before her stroke, she was working two part-time jobs, one in a pub and one in retail, and driving a manual car. When asked what “normal life” looks like now compared to before her stroke, Tilly is honest. “Boring,” she says. “I’m happy because I can spend more time with my family. But I miss driving and working. It’s getting to me.”
To Tilly, recovery means work, money, a social life and freedom.
“I would love to drive again,” she says. “Listening to my music. Nicki Minaj. Driving is so important. I had two jobs. I want to drive into town and to see my friends.”
Starting therapy at Resilience
Tilly began therapy with Resilience Neuro Specialists with the aim of restoring strength and function in her right leg and arm, and rebuilding confidence and independence.
What made a difference early on was not just the therapy itself, but how it was delivered.
“This doesn’t feel like a hospital,” Tilly explains. “It feels like somewhere you go to get fit and healthy, like a normal gym.” She works closely with Michelle, Clinical Director and neurophysiotherapist, and Luke, rehabilitation coach.
“Luke works me hard,” Tilly says, laughing. “Come on Tilly! Keep going! And I think ‘Oh please!’ But I trust them. I feel comfortable with the team. I can be myself.”
A key part of Tilly’s programme has been the use of visual feedback using gait and movement analysis technology.
“The neurotechnology pinpoints exactly what’s happening with her limbs,” Amelia says. “She can see where something is out of place, which is incredibly helpful. The staff are motivating, there’s a lot of expertise in the room, and it feels friendly and welcoming. It’s a really holistic experience.”
“Being able to offer a wide range of equipment means Tilly can have a full rehabilitation experience in one place,” Michelle explains. “Using tools like Walker View and the D-Wall, she can actually see how she’s standing and walking. That visual insight helps her understand what she’s working on and why.”
“The sessions are deliberately engaging,” Michelle adds. “There’s novelty and challenge in the work, and when that’s combined with repetition it leads to better outcomes.”
Progress so far
Since starting therapy at Resilience, Tilly has made measurable improvements in gait symmetry, endurance, and active upper limb engagement, alongside increased confidence in daily activities.
Therapy has focused on walking, balance, and rebuilding strength through her right side, using gait training, upper limb robotics, and functional electrical stimulation. On the Amadeo robot, used for hand rehabilitation, Tilly’s active contribution has increased from 0% to around 30%.
“She’s made so much progress,” Amelia says. “She’s now walking without a stick, for longer distances, and much straighter. She knows what exercises she needs to do and feels more confident in herself.”
Tilly notices the change too. “I’m standing on my right leg now. I can do sit-to-stand using my right side.”
Throughout her programme, therapy has been delivered in coordination with existing services, with clear goals and progress reviewed regularly. Tilly continues to receive support from the community stroke team alongside her sessions at Resilience, benefiting from a joined-up approach that builds on NHS provision.
Looking ahead
Resilience’s targeted intervention has helped reduce the risk of long-term maladaptive movement patterns and supported a clearer pathway back towards work, driving, and independent adult life.
When asked what she’s most looking forward to next, Tilly doesn’t hesitate. “Going on holiday. To Fuerteventura. And driving. Definitely driving.”
She is actively preparing for a return to work, with conversations underway about what support she will need to return to her role at a large retail chain. Despite everything she has been through, Tilly remains clear about who she is. “I still go out. I still see my friends.” In fact, after being discharged from hospital,Tilly recently went to a nightclub with a walking stick and foot-ups for her best friend Jess’s birthday party.
“That’s just Tilly,” Amelia says. “She’s dealt with this incredibly well. We use humour. We keep moving forward.” As Tilly puts it, “Having a stroke at 19 isn’t the most interesting thing about me. I’m still me.”
The Resilience approach
Tilly’s rehabilitation journey reflects the role specialist, technology-enabled community neurorehabilitation can play for young adults and working-age individuals who have completed acute and community pathways but require further targeted intervention during a critical recovery window.
At Resilience Neuro Specialists, we provide personalised neurorehabilitation through an interdisciplinary team of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, and neuropsychologists. Therapy is delivered in the community or at the Resilience Therapy Centre, combining expert hands-on care with advanced neurorehabilitation technology to support meaningful, measurable progress.
To make a referral or find out more, contact us today.
Why refer to Resilience?
- Right timing: For individuals who have completed acute and community pathways but have further recovery potential
- Clear need: Ongoing functional limitations affecting independence, work, and driving.
- Targeted intervention: Specialist, goal-led neurorehabilitation with technology-enabled movement analysis
- Outcomes focused: Supports return to independence, participation, and everyday life
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