Phoebe Tesoriere was previously misdiagnosed with anxiety, depression, epilepsy, and Todd's Paralysis, and can no longer work as a special educational needs teacher due to her symptoms. She had a seizure in July 2025 that left her in a coma for three days. In January 2025, she fell down the stairs, leading to three months in hospital and inconclusive tests, and was discharged and sent a letter stating if she returned, she would be treated as a mental health patient.
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board apologized for Phoebe Tesoriere's experience while in their care. GP Dr. Rebeccah Tomlinson said if people use AI chatbots to research health concerns, these should be discussed with a medical professional. The NHS says it is not known how many people have hereditary spastic paraplegia because it is often misdiagnosed. Symptoms of hereditary spastic paraplegia can be managed through physiotherapy.
We are sorry to hear about Phoebe's experience while in our care.
Phoebe Tesoriere was born without a left hip socket and had operations as a baby. She is now fundraising to afford a special wheelchair to help adapt to her diagnosis.
I had to fight to be listened to.
All my childhood I had a limp.
I had no history of anxiety, I was a really happy, bubbly person.
I went back and forth with my partner, questioning 'do I go to the doctors?', 'do I not?', 'what should I do?', 'surely it can't be that'.
It was such a bittersweet moment to be diagnosed after being told it was anxiety. To go from that to matter of weeks later being told actually you've got this condition which will change your whole life. It's one of those things where I'm happy to have my diagnosis because it made sense but I'd rather it be anything else but this.
People think 'oh she just can't walk'. Or 'it's a massive thing she's had but at least it's not a spinal cord injury'. It is, and it's progressive. At night I have to wear splints on my arms to keep them functioning as long as possible. There is no treatment but my doctors hope they can slow the progression, but there's nothing they can do to stop it.