I was working for the NHS as a health care assistant and support worker and really loved my work. I had back pain for almost three years. My GP dismissed it and said it was sciatica, but after a fall they found a severely herniated disc that caused me to be paralysed. I had to stay in Stoke Mandeville for nine months for rehab.  

I didn’t understand what a spinal cord injury was, especially as I had been living with back pain for so long. I thought a couple of weeks of rest I’d be fine again and back on my feet, but obviously I wasn’t. I didn’t understand the seriousness of it until I got to Stoke Mandeville. 

Aspire is highly spoken of at Stoke Mandeville. I had heard the name but then a support worker gave me more information on how you might be able to help. I spoke to someone who put me in touch with Hari, Aspire’s Welfare Benefits Manager. There were different issues with my benefits. I was told I wasn’t entitled to anything which wasn’t correct, but Hari kept pushing and sorted everything. 

I have no idea where I’d be without the advice, it was such a hard time because until I spoke to Hari, I was given the wrong information and told there was nothing that could be done so I had no idea how I was going to cope. 

It’s hard to put into words how much Aspire has helped me. This support and kindness from strangers is amazing. Aspire is like the family I never want to lose touch with and I’m so grateful. 

I can’t go back to work right now so I would not survive without the benefits, they cover everything I need from food to physio. I’m so thankful that Aspire helped me. I couldn’t have sorted this on my own. 

Welfare Benefits Advice

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