When Finley* first came to us, he was nine years old. Today, he’s 18, studying History with War Studies at York St John University, living in halls with carers who support him to take part in everything university life offers. He loves military history, Star Wars, York City FC and the student union pub quiz. He’s bright, warm, funny and wholeheartedly himself.
Finley has cerebral palsy, with a significant involuntary movement disorder. His muscles can be very tight and overactive (spasticity), especially around his hips and legs. Left unmanaged, that spasticity can pull his body into uncomfortable positions, cause pain and make day-to-day life much harder.
The road to where he is now hasn’t been easy.
Before PSP: “It felt bleak and hopeless”
Before Finley’s family found PSP, life was incredibly tough including that he had undergone major hip surgery one month earlier. Because of his involuntary movements, an epidural that was meant to control his pain slipped out without anyone realising. Under his plaster casts, his muscles continued to be overactive, and he was in agonising pain.
His mum describes that time as frightening and overwhelming. She was speaking to the GP, the paediatrician, the physiotherapist – anyone who might have answers, but no one seemed to know what to do next. With two other children to look after and no clear plan, she felt alone and increasingly hopeless.
“It was like a grey cloud over our whole family,” she said. “When you see your child in pain every day, you start to lose hope.”
Finding PSP: “We were incredibly lucky”
Everything changed through a chance conversation. Finley’s occupational therapist mentioned PSP and suggested reaching out. Pete Sanderson visited the family shortly after.
Finley’s mum remembers the moment clearly:
“It felt instantly calmer. PSP knew what they were talking about. For the first time in years, we had a plan – and that gave us hope.”
At PSP, we believe neurorehabilitation should be accessible, tailored and full of heart. In that very first visit, Finley’s family felt all of that.
What we focused on
Clinically, Finley’s spasticity and involuntary movements were causing a vicious cycle. Tight muscles were pulling his legs into difficult positions, which caused pain. The pain and poor positioning then drove even more spasticity. Over time, that kind of cycle can affect everything: sleep, comfort, concentration in class, ability to sit, and toileting.
Our first priority was to break that cycle.
Working as a team, we identified which muscles were most problematic and used targeted Botulinum Toxin (Botox) to “turn the volume down” on the overactive muscles. As Angie, one of our specialist clinicians, explains:
“Not all spasticity needs treating – but Finley had spasticity that was pulling him into painful positions and getting in the way of everyday life. By treating the right muscles, we reduced his pain and gave his body a better chance to move in a way that works for him.”
These medical interventions were never used in isolation. They were designed to support real-life goals and to work hand in hand with physiotherapy and standing work. Finley’s physiotherapist, who has known him for many years, regularly attends his treatment sessions. She feeds back to the team what she’s seeing – for example, if his hip is starting to rotate more when he stands, or if a knee is becoming harder to manage, and that information directly shapes his injection plan.
This close collaboration means each round of treatment links straight back to what matters most: Finley’s comfort, function and independence.
Growing through puberty: protecting what matters
Puberty is often a turning point for young people with cerebral palsy. Growth spurts can make tight muscles even tighter, and joints can start to stiffen and deform. Without proactive management, many teenagers lose important abilities, such as being able to stand with support or transfer out of their wheelchair. Once those skills are lost, they can be very hard to regain.
For Finley , we set a clear, shared goal: protect his ability to transfer and stand with support and prevent his anatomical deformities from getting worse as he grew.
Angie puts it simply:
“Spasticity, if it isn’t managed, can pull the body into positions that don’t work well. Over time, joints can become fixed, pain increases, and function reduces. With Finley, the aim was to remove that risk in a thoughtful way – adjust his muscle tone so he could keep doing the things that matter to him.”
Because of consistent intervention, Finley’s underlying joint deformities have not worsened in his teenage years in the way we would typically expect. His muscles haven’t shortened, and he has maintained the ability to sit comfortably and stand/transfer with assistance.
He can still do assisted step-around transfers to get onto a toilet, with the right support. That may sound like a small detail, but it’s a huge factor in keeping his world open. It means he does not need a hoist and therefore can access ordinary environments, like a pub or a university bathroom, with support from one person rather than relying on specialised facilities.
Alongside this, we’ve seen meaningful everyday outcomes: his pain is significantly reduced, his sleep is good, and he can access his environment and education far more comfortably and consistently than he would have been able to without treatment.
Rebuilding confidence after trauma
When Finley first joined PSP, he was also living with a severe phobia of general anesthetic. Earlier hospital experiences had been traumatic, leaving him terrified of anesthetic masks. Even seeing one could trigger panic.
We took things slowly and gently. Working alongside anesthetists and Finley’s family, we used a paced, supportive approach to help him rebuild trust. His mum took a mask home so they could practice together, starting with it simply being near him and gradually building up from there.
At first, he needed medication to help him feel safe enough to cooperate. Over time, with patience, reassurance, and consistency, he gained confidence. Today, Finley picks up the mask himself and holds it to his face. That shift didn’t happen quickly – but it shows what’s possible when care is truly personalised and trauma-aware.
Today: “He’s living the life he should have had”
Now Finley is at university, living in halls just five minutes down the road, supported by carers but undeniably living his own life. He attends lectures, meets friends, joins societies and enjoys the independence so many 18-year-olds look forward to.
His mum says this is exactly the kind of life he would have had if he hadn’t been injured – moving out, studying what he loves and enjoying young adulthood. Thanks to his hard work, his family’s persistence, and a coordinated, long-term clinical plan, he’s been able to do that in his own way.
When Pete visited him in his halls of residence, it was a special moment for everyone. It’s one thing to plan treatment year by year – it’s another to see the long-term impact in real life. Finley was laughing, studying, making new friends and enjoying what he has worked so hard for.
What it’s meant for his family
What PSP has done hasn’t just changed Finley’s life; it has changed his family’s life too. Before PSP, his mum felt alone, frightened and constantly overwhelmed. She didn’t know who to turn to. With PSP, she’s always felt supported. She knows she can message or call when something worries her, and someone will help her make sense of it.
There have been moments when the stress of everything affected Finley’s mum. At one point, Pete even gathered all the team together, turned up with a box of doughnuts, and helped the family to work through things. He recognised that if she went under, the whole ship would sink. That level of care is hard to put into words.
“I wish we’d found them sooner”
If there’s one thing Finley’s mum would change, it’s that she wishes they’d found PSP earlier. Those early years were bleak, frightening and incredibly lonely. She often thinks how different things might have been if PSP had been involved from the start.
Her message to other families is simple: give PSP a chance. See what’s possible when specialist spasticity management, thoughtful planning and real partnership come together.
PSP has helped keep the world open to Finley. They’ve protected his comfort, preserved his independence, and supported his family to feel less alone. And that’s exactly what we’re here to do.
*clients name has been changed for privacy reasons