I am one of three founders who has ‘lived experience’ of Thoracic outlet syndrome - the Neurogenic, Venous and Pectoralis Minor types.

My ambition is to create a paradigm shift about what Thoracic outlet syndrome really is, how it affects people’s daily lives, and deliver a collective voice in medical circles about future diagnostics, and treatment options in the UK. I believe, Thoracic outlet syndrome really isn’t that rare, it’s just rarely diagnosed and people’s lives are destroyed without early treatment.

I’ve grown up in a largely medical family (hence an interest in all things medical); though I have worked mainly in public services all my life, I've still been in caring, nurturing and educational roles. For over 23 years,I’ve supported children, adults and families to be resilient in the face of adversity and trauma, which I think will be useful as we develop this advocacy group. It’s with regret that I've had to recently give up my job in children’s services due to my TOS diagnoses after being told my congenital anatomy is incurable, and so I am now drawing on my own resilience. Rather than let it knock me down, I am treating my situation as a ‘problem to solve’ not just for myself but for our community.

I am currently ‘re-inventing’ myself (...as you will frequently hear people with TOS say… ), and I am developing my own business external to this charitable venture, as an accredited chronic pain and anxiety practitioner. I am also a mental health first-aider, so I am hoping these skills and attributes will bring plenty to TOS Voices UK.

I have always been active and into sports since being a child. I enjoy the competitiveness, exercise and pushing my own boundaries, which also helps to keep my mental health in check! However, in August 2025, this all changed suddenly one evening whilst playing a cricket match. From this day on, my symptoms of TOS (unbeknownst to me!) had begun!

It’s certainly been a long & challenging road so far. I had to swap my hobbies and interests, and replace with extensive health research, including learning how to interepret my own CT scans!

I have had to leave my job. My family had to pick up the slack during many hospital admissions. My life has been tipped upside down and I’ve had to figure it all out alone and ‘re-invent’ myself.

I finally reached my diagnosis of Arterial and Venous Thoracic Outlet Syndrome in April 26, and now face my first surgery in September 26, in only 4 weeks time! Which is just the start of a long road ahead.

I bring to the table, extensive experience of working within the third sector, including my own voluntary work over the years. I have also previously set up a bereavement support group during my career as a Funeral Director.

Myself, Louise & Annie, all have our own unique journey of TOS, yet we share many similarities of the challenges, emotions & losses a long the way. Together I believe we will create the perfect team to successfully achieve more support, awareness and research for the TOS community. 

I am a medical student and founding trustee of TOS voices, with lived experience of mixed vascular and neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome. My journey to diagnosis has been complicated, with symptoms that were initially attributed to an ulnar nerve problem. I underwent ulnar nerve surgery, but this unfortunately only made things worse. It was only after subsequently developing a blood clot that the vascular component of my condition was recognised, eventually leading to my diagnosis of mixed TOS.

I understand just how difficult it can be to navigate healthcare when symptoms don't fit neatly into one diagnosis, and how frustrating it can be when the underlying cause is not recognised. As a medical student, I also have had the opportunity to understand TOS from a clinical perspective. I hope to use both sides of my experience to help TOS voices bring patients and clinicians closer together.

I am particularly passionate about improving awareness of the different presentations of TOS, supporting better recognition and diagnosis, and making sure that the experiences of patients are represented alongside the medical evidence. I believe that patients should not have to become experts in their own condition simply to be heard.

Outside of medicine and TOS voices, I enjoy photography, which gives me a creative outlet and a reason to get outside. I also used to spend a lot of time in the gym, however adapting to changes in what I can do physically has been one of the more difficult parts of my own journey. 

Keeping positive is important to me. I want to use my own experiences constructively to improve the journey to diagnosis for future patients.