Charlie's story

Patients' Stories

The following is an excerpt from a letter written to Mr Clive Lindley-Jones regarding one of his recent Sunflower therapy patients:

"It was obvious to me as a mum that Charlie was having unusual learning difficulties from the moment he started school. He was reluctant to attend school; he often got tired to the extent that his body seized up completely; he made labour of reading, and his writing was illegible. It took four and a half years for the authorities to diagnose him as dislexic. Eventually it was proved by an independent test. He started "special English" lessons, but these were of little value as they made him feel conspicuous. He was teased, bullied, labelled "thick", and his eroding self-confidence soon stopped him performing on the sporting field. School was a REAL CHORE.

At age 14, after changing school several times, I realised GCSEs were approaching and I had to do something quickly if he was to achieve anything at all. I took him for an interview with Clive Lindley-Jones, not really knowing if the Sunflower Trust was the answer, but feeling desperate. Charlie is now 16 and has completed his school education. The Sunflower therapies have taught him to cope with his inabilities; his muscles now function properly so that he is rarely fatigued and he enjoys his natural energy. He believed in himself enough to gain an A, 6 Bs and a C at GCSE level, instead of the predicted Cs and Ds. He gained a place in the first school hockey, cricket and tennis teams and ran successfully in cross country teams. He is altogether a boy who is now ABLE to achieve.

The Sunflower Trust gave him the tools to move from a constantly struggling existence to an achieving existence. I can never be more thankful that I placed my faith in the Sunflower Trust."

- Parent