A ‘fit and healthy’ teenager has been left paralyzed and unable to speak after her initial symptoms were dismissed as ‘period pain’.
Seventeen-year-old Shakira Gorman is currently on a ventilator in an intensive care unit after experiencing a spinal stroke. This type of stroke is particularly rare and usually affects individuals aged between 50 and 70.
Shakira, hailing from Banbury in the UK, was at her boyfriend’s home two days before Christmas when she began bleeding, assuming it to be a heavy menstrual period.
However, she was soon rushed to the hospital as she began having difficulty breathing and lost sensation in her arms and hands.
Prior to these events, Shakira had also complained of back and shoulder pain. Now, she communicates with her family through lip reading and a word board.
This condition is extremely rare, affecting only about one in three million people.
Shakira’s 29-year-old sister, Chelsea Coles, stated: “It’s so rare. Shakira was at her boyfriend’s house when she started bleeding heavily and thought it was a heavy period. However, she soon began losing her breath and the feeling in her arms and hands, leading to her being rushed to Horton Hospital by ambulance.”
“They conducted various observations but couldn’t determine the cause. Approximately four hours later, she was transferred to the John Radcliffe Hospital under emergency care,” Chelsea added.
She further explained: “Later that evening, she experienced severe chest and body pain. An MRI scan was necessary, so she was anaesthetised to keep her still. It took another day to confirm it was a spinal stroke.”
Doctors have since placed Shakira on blood thinners and are closely monitoring her condition.
Her sister-in-law, Chloe Coles, 30, commented on the suddenness of the stroke: “It happened so quickly. The only symptom she had was some shoulder and back pain, which she attributed to back ache or the onset of her period.”
“It’s shocking; she was always a fit and healthy teenager. She is studying beauty at college and is interested in hair and make-up,” Chloe noted.
“The nurses were initially baffled as spinal strokes are almost unheard of in someone her age.”
According to the Cleveland Clinic, spinal strokes occur when there is an interruption in the blood supply to the spinal cord and account for less than one percent of all stroke cases.
Chelsea expressed uncertainty about the future: “We don’t know what lies ahead. For now, we’re taking it one day at a time. Each day presents new challenges, and we’re supporting Shakira as best as we can.”
She added: “Our parents are feeling devastated and still in shock. It was completely unexpected.”
A GoFundMe page has been established to assist Shakira’s family. The page states: “All funds raised will go directly to Shakira’s parents to alleviate the pressures of work and daily responsibilities so they can focus solely on being by their daughter’s side.”