Shakira Gorman, 17, is currently on a ventilator in an intensive care unit
A previously “fit and healthy” teenager of just 17 has been left paralysed and stripped of her ability to speak following what she initially mistook for menstrual discomfort. Shakira Gorman now finds herself hooked up to a ventilator in intensive care after being struck down by an exceptionally rare type of stroke typically seen in those between the ages of 50 and 70.
The heartbroken family have been told by nursing staff that they’ve never encountered such a young patient experiencing a spinal stroke, with her condition initially baffling medics when she was rushed into A&E. Shakira, a budding beauty student, had been spending time at her boyfriend’s place just two days shy of Christmas when she began bleeding and initially put it down to a particularly heavy period.
However, alarm bells rang when she was urgently transported to Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital as her breathing became laboured and sensation in her arms and hands vanished. The Banbury, Oxfordshire resident was placed on a ventilator to assist her breathing, where she’s remained in intensive care for over a fortnight.
Speech has eluded her since, forcing Shakira to rely on lip reading and a word board to communicate with loved ones. Her older sister, 29-year-old Chelsea Coles who is a mum-of-two herself, expressed the family’s profound shock at seeing someone so young fall victim to such an uncommon medical emergency.
The condition is said to be extraordinarily uncommon, striking just one in every three million individuals. Prior to her collapse, Shakira had also been complaining of discomfort in her back and shoulders, prompting the family to sound the alarm for others to recognise these warning signs.
Chelsea said: “It’s so rare. Shakira was at her boyfriend’s house and she started bleeding very heavily – haemorrhaging.
“She thought it was a heavy period, but she quickly started losing her breath and the feeling in her arms and hands. She was rushed to the Horton (hospital) by ambulance. They did all the observations and couldn’t work it out.
“But about four hours later she was blue-lighted to the JR (hospital). Later in the evening she was in great pain in her chest and body. They needed to do an MRI scan, so she was anaesthetised to keep her still.
“It took them another day to confirm that it was a spinal stroke. She had a blood clot in her spine. She was put on blood thinners, which she is still on.
“She doesn’t know the complexities and we want to protect her emotional and wellbeing at this time. She is awake and she can have a conversation; she’s still herself, but she can’t move apart from her fingers, slightly.
“She can’t use a phone or the bedside bell. She’s been there a long time and is perplexed, watching other patients come and go from intensive care.”
Shakira’s mum and dad, Lesley and Darren, are devoting every available visiting slot to being at their daughter’s bedside, whilst relatives have launched fundraising efforts to alleviate the mounting financial pressures.
Chelsea explained: “Mum and my stepdad go along for visiting hours from 12pm to 3pm and 5pm to 7.30pm and are trying to work in the mornings. My stepdad’s had to reduce his hours at Halfords and Mum’s got compassionate leave from Orchard Fields School, where she is a lunch supervisor.
“She has also has a full-time job, which she’s trying to cover as much as possible. We have three younger siblings at home and special arrangements have had to be made to enable them to go to school.
“We older siblings are making sure they are OK. We don’t know what the future holds. At the moment we’re taking each day as it comes.
“Each day is different and we are taking one step at a time. Shakira knows everyone is doing all they can to support her.
“My parents are feeling empty, devastated and they’re still in shock – it’s so unexpected. The fundraiser will help cover some of the lost income, their travel and if Shakira needs any support in the future.
“At the moment the hospital can’t say what recovery is going to look like. She will be in the best hands at Stoke Mandeville. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.”
Sister-in-law Chloe Coles, 30, a carer, explained: “It all happened so quickly. The only symptom she had was a bit of shoulder and back pain, she thought it might be backache or her period starting.
“So she had a hot bath to try and help with it, but within an hour or two they were doing all sorts of tests on her in hospital. We can’t believe it, she was always a fit and healthy 17 year old. She is studying beauty at college and into her hair and make-up.
“The nurses were baffled, it was a mystery at first what had happened to her, because a spinal stroke is pretty much unheard of in people her age. They had never known anyone so young as it usually affects older people. Shakira is currently on the waiting list to be transferred to Stoke Mandeville hospital, where the spinal specialists are.
“The waiting time for a bed is not known. We are hoping the specialists will be able to give more answers and help Shakira get better, although it is not guaranteed that she will fully recover from this.”
Medical staff were left puzzled initially, as spinal strokes are exceptionally rare in someone of Shakira’s age – typically affecting older individuals. She’s now awaiting transfer to Stoke Mandeville hospital for specialist care, though the timeframe for a bed remains uncertain.
“Myself and my husband made the fundraiser to help ease the financial pressure on Shakira’s parents at this devastating time. As soon as visiting hours open both parents are at her bedside and do not leave the hospital until visiting hours are over.”
The youngster’s aunt and uncle launched a fundraising appeal to support her parents during this heartbreaking period. Both mum and dad remain at their daughter’s bedside throughout visiting hours each day.
“With three of four jobs in the household not being worked, household income has dropped. The fundraiser is to try to ease some of the pressure at his most difficult time, in the hope they would not have to worry about bills and travel costs – so that they could solely concentrate on being by their daughter’s side.”
With three out of four household incomes now lost, the family faces mounting financial strain. The appeal aims to alleviate worries about bills and travel expenses, allowing the parents to focus entirely on supporting their daughter.
Those wishing to help can visit the fundraising page on GoFundMe.
According to the Brain and Spine Foundation: “A spinal stroke is a disruption in the blood supply to the spinal cord. The spinal cord depends on a supply of blood to function properly. A disruption in the blood supply can cause injury or damage to tissues and can block messages (nerve impulses) travelling along the spinal cord.
“The blood supply to the spinal cord involves a complex system of blood vessels. The main blood vessels are the anterior spinal artery (at the front of the spinal cord) and the posterior spinal artery (at the back). Spinal strokes are most common in the anterior spinal artery.
“Most spinal strokes are caused by blockages (usually blood clots) in the blood supply. These are called ischaemic spinal strokes. Some spinal strokes are caused by bleeds. These are called haemorrhagicspinal strokes.
“Spinal strokes are a rare condition. They are less common than strokes that affect the brain. They account for 1.25% of all strokes.”
