‘Spinal injury won’t take away Jamie’s independence’

As a man living with autism and Down’s Syndrome, Jamie Williams has always been fiercely protective of his independence. Known for his attitude and zest for life, he refuses to let anything defeat him. 

“He just gets on with it, whatever the challenge is, he doesn’t let anything get in his way. He’s amazing, and so resilient,” says his mum, Debbie. 

But the biggest challenge Jamie and his family faced came through his spinal injury, which despite major surgery to try and minimise the damage, has left him with mobility challenges and needing to use a wheelchair when he goes out. 

“He still hasn’t let that stop him. You’ll often find him by the sea in his wheelchair, eating a bag of chips, just doing what anyone else would be doing,” says Debbie, who lives near Jamie’s supported living home in Cornwall. 

“I think because he has had to be resilient his whole life, his spinal injury has been just another thing for him to overcome. I’m so proud of what he has overcome and continues to achieve.”

Jamie’s spinal injury dates back to 2010, when some issues were noticed with his mobility. Jamie, who loved to dance and go bowling, and who could easily walk up three flights of stairs, seemed less able to participate as he had always done. 

Eventually, a year later, he was referred for an MRI scan, which was reported as being normal, and his mobility issues attributed to a viral infection. 

“Jamie had had flu, and he has very complex needs anyway and also can’t express himself in the way that other people can verbally. We have to observe changes. We thought it must have just been a side effect of his flu, we didn’t know any different,” says Debbie. 

But the problems with Jamie’s mobility only worsened, with the impact becoming more profound, to the extent that at his 30^th birthday party – for which his family had hired a Michael Jackson tribute act, one of Jamie’s favourite performers – he was unable to dance as he had always loved to do. 

Referred for another MRI scan in 2015, it was discovered that Jamie had spinal stenosis – something which, it was subsequently discovered, had been present at the time of his initial scan in 2011. 

Jamie underwent surgery in early 2016, with an initial 11-hour operation followed by further surgery to address resultant problems with his swallowing, to attempt to preserve as much of Jamie’s mobility and independence as possible. 

“It was a hugely traumatic experience for us as a whole family. We didn’t know how he would cope with the operation, how he would cope in hospital, how he would deal with the consequences of it,” says Debbie. 

“I was told that if he didn’t have the operation, he would be paralysed from the neck down, and I knew he could not live like that.

“Although we had discovered that this should have been picked up back in 2011, and things would have been so much better for him, we couldn’t focus on anything other than Jamie at that time, and the need to get him through his really traumatic ordeal.”

Although Jamie has approached his recovery with his characteristic ‘can do’ attitude and determination, he has not been able to regain the ability to move independently. He relies on a walking frame indoors and uses a wheelchair outdoors. 

But that has not impeded his independence, with Debbie reporting his active social life. 

“It does make me sad that he can’t dance as he loved to do, but we compensate in other ways,” she says. 

“He still loves Michael Jackson and we’ve taken him to the theatre to see a tribute act. He’s also been to see ABBA and Kylie tributes. He can’t stand up for bowling, but we make use of the ramps they have, so we can still make sure he does the things he loves. 

“It’s different. It will never be the same, but we work with it. Jamie has a Motability car which his carers use to take him out, and he just loves it. He has not lost his independence, which was a worry, but we are so pleased that has remained.”

Jamie and his family have been supported by law firm Slater and Gordon in making a claim against the hospital which failed to spot his spinal injury on the initial MRI scan, and left Jamie to suffer in silence for more than four years as his condition worsened. 

Solicitor Hannah Seignior, a specialist in clinical negligence claims, acted for the family and secured a settlement from the hospital. 

“We had no idea about what a legal process looked like, it was something we had never had any involvement with, but Slater and Gordon were a Godsend,” says Debbie. 

“I would say anyone who is represented by Hannah is very lucky. We were so fortunate to have her support. She made everything so accessible in a world where it’s all otherwise process and terminology, and she spent so much time supporting us through everything. 

“It was such a relief to finally settle the claim after this terrible mistake had been made so many years before – and we are indebted to Slater and Gordon for their help.”

Hannah said: “It has been such a privilege to act for Jamie in this case. Debbie, as his litigation friend, has been truly amazing. She speaks of Jamie’s resilience – but it’s easy to see where that comes from! 

“This was a hugely traumatic experience for Jamie and his whole family, and one which simply should not have happened.

"The consequences for Jamie have been devastating, but we are all in awe of how he refuses to let this injury impact him any further than it needs to, and how he continues to try to be as independent and positive as possible.

“I’m so pleased we have been able to bring this whole awful experience to a conclusion for this lovely family through the settlement of this claim, which I hope will enable them to look to the future and move forward in their lives together.”

Find out more about Slater and Gordon at slatergordon.co.uk