“I had to trust the process and celebrate the little things, because even the smallest successes meant everything to me.”
Meet Aliza Rae. Living life to the fullest as a teenager; she was always on the go, either constantly surrounded by friends, working hard at school, or diving headfirst into activities. At her boarding school she became captain of the netball team, and, in between that, she could be found at the piano learning new music.
Although she embraced every moment with enthusiasm, Aliza Rae’s passion for horse riding topped it all. When she wasn’t at school, or competing in a netball match, she would be spending her time at the horse stables with her family, or out in the fields riding her horse. She had just completed Pony Camp and was looking forward to going on a residential riding course.
However, Aliza Rae’s life drastically changed on the 3rd of August 2024. She suffered a fall from a friend’s horse, followed by a repeated force and trauma from the horse sitting back on her. This caused a L2 fractured lumber vertebra which was pressing on her spinal column, leaving her essentially paralysed from the waist down.
She was immediately transferred to Southampton Children’s Hospital where she received acute management from their brilliant paediatric team. This included two surgeries, where metal rods were placed to stabilise her fractured vertebra, and rehabilitation, helping her recovery at the earliest possible moment. Her determination and the treatment she received at Southampton Children’s Hospital significantly improved her mobility and strength.
Aliza Rae’s mother, Thirza, was in contact with Helen Hobbs, Co-founder and Director of Hobbs Rehabilitation, at a point when they didn’t know what sort of progress Aliza Rae would be able to achieve.
“She was amazing in talking us through different scenarios for long term rehabilitation if Aliza Rae remained paralysed or had limited movement. Thankfully, by the time of discharge from Southampton Aliza Rae was walking again and so we decided an intensive week at Bristol was the best course of action.” – Thirza, Aliza Rae’s mother
Understanding the importance of getting further neurological rehabilitation support straight away, Aliza Rae joined Hobbs Rehabilitation Intensive Neurotherapy Centre (INC) in Bristol only a few days after she was discharged from hospital. Her main goal was to be able to confidently get on a horse again and return back to school.
“It was a great way to start post-hospital life and give Aliza Rae the confidence to carry on with physiotherapy and return to school.” – Thirza, Aliza Rae’s mother
Our specialist neurological physiotherapists and occupational therapists prioritised improving Aliza Rae’s balance, strength and stability in her lower limbs, targeting work where there were still deficiencies. At the same time, it was important to support her reintegration into her daily routine, rebuilding a sense of normalcy and familiarity by boosting her confidence and independence.
With a combination of hands-on therapy and cutting-edge neurotechnology (such as the C-Mill VR+), Aliza Rae made steady progress at Bristol. In her own words, she “liked to be worked” and brought her competitive spirit into every session. She loved being given the choice at the start of each day which neurotechnology device to use and was genuinely curious about how her body responded and improved each time.
One of her most memorable moments was when she was able to run without using a dynaband to stabilise, something she thought might not be possible but was actually a very achievable goal. Aliza Rae also had the exciting opportunity to visit The Avon Centre with the RDA, with our team supervising her first time on a mechanical horse!
During her time at the INC in Bristol, Aliza Rae and her family stayed at Mollie’s Motel and Diner, a stylish, American-inspired hotel partnered with Hobbs Rehabilitation to offer accessible rooms for patients and their families to stay while they are receiving treatment. Nutrition played a key role in rebuilding Aliza Rae’s strength, and the option to have meals delivered directly to the room made recovery smoother and more manageable.
“I highly recommend Mollie’s Motel and Diner. The food was delicious, and the bedrooms and bathrooms were really comfortable and accessible. It felt like we were staying at a proper American diner! Being able to order food to the room, which had a big TV, meant we had lots of family movie nights – we ended up watching all the Pirates of the Caribbean films!”
Aliza Rae’s time at Hobbs Rehabilitation was an inspiring success. Her determination, positive energy, and sheer commitment meant her recovery improved steadily. With the support from our experienced neurological therapists, she improved her balance, movement control, and strengthened her core and hips.
These gains helped her achieve a major milestone – returning to horse riding with confidence, knowing her body could keep up. Bespoke exercises targeting her lower limbs and feet have also improved her ability to grip the stirrups and guide her horse with ease. Beyond therapy, Aliza Rae has also returned to school, continuing to lead her netball team and thrive academically.
More recently, Aliza Rae and her family visited our brand new, state-of-the-art rehabilitation facility at Chedington in Dorset. They toured the expansive site, exploring its ground-breaking neurotechnology (like the LokomatPro Sensation) and innovative rehabilitation options, including the ABLE Exoskeleton and the Hydrotherapy Pool. Aliza Rae was especially thrilled by the world-class equine grounds and the stunning natural surroundings, which added an extra layer of inspiration and possibility to her visit.
Looking back on her rehabilitation journey, Aliza Rae acknowledges just how challenging it has been, full of highs and lows. Despite this, she’s deeply grateful for the unwavering support she received along the way.
Reflecting on what kept her going, she shares, “I had to trust the process and celebrate the little things, because even the smallest successes meant everything to me.”