A 39-year-old mother, Kayele Sheppard, has been left paralysed on her right side after suffering a life-threatening stroke caused by a blood clot that travelled from her heart to her brain.
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Kayele’s family has revealed that she endured several medical emergencies after the clot triggered a catastrophic stroke, followed by bleeding in her brain that required multiple emergency surgeries.
According to a statement released by her family, Kayele nearly died 12 years ago while pregnant with her son, Archie, after suffering a tear in her aorta, the body’s main artery.
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She underwent life-saving surgery and was fitted with mechanical heart valves. Despite the seriousness of her condition, she survived and continued raising her family.
However, tragedy struck again earlier this year when a large blood clot broke away from her heart while she was driving and travelled to her brain, causing a severe stroke.
Her family said the following day brought another frightening development when she suffered a brain bleed, forcing them to consent to another emergency operation.
Doctors performed a decompressive craniectomy to relieve pressure and swelling in her brain before placing her in a medically induced coma.
Seven days later, medical staff restarted the blood-thinning medication she requires because of her mechanical heart valves. However, she suffered another brain bleed and needed further emergency surgery.
For 20 agonising days, her loved ones waited and prayed for her to regain consciousness.
Against the odds, Kayele eventually woke up, came off the ventilator and began breathing independently.
She is currently receiving treatment at Furness General Hospital in Barrow. However, the stroke has left her paralysed on her right side, while her speech and ability to communicate have also been severely affected.
Kayele is undergoing physiotherapy and speech therapy, but her family says she urgently needs more intensive specialist neurological rehabilitation to support her recovery.
According to her loved ones, private specialist treatment could cost between £4,500 and £8,500 per week, with six months of treatment potentially costing as much as £221,000.
She has been approved for 12 weeks of NHS rehabilitation, while private medical insurance was unaffordable because of her previous medical history.
Her family is now hoping to raise £150,000 to help cover specialist rehabilitation and provide support throughout her recovery.
Explaining their hopes for Kayele’s future, the family said:
“Above everything, we want Kayele to have the best possible quality of life with her two sons, C-Jay and Archie.
“To be able to communicate with them, tell them she loves them, share memories, and hopefully regain the ability to walk and enjoy everyday life with her boys.