A young mum has been left paralysed on one side after a blood clot broke away from her heart and caused a devastating stroke.
Kayele Sheppard, 39, was airlifted to hospital after the clot reached her brain, triggering a catastrophic stroke that left her fighting for her life.
The mum-of-two suffered a major brain bleed the following day and needed further emergency surgery.
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Now her family is desperately trying to raise £150,000 to fund specialist rehabilitation and give her the best possible chance of recovery.
In a heartbreaking statement, they revealed Kayele, from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, nearly died 12 years ago while pregnant with her son Archie, after suffering a tear in her aorta.
She underwent life-saving surgery and was fitted with mechanical heart valves, as reported by Need To Know
The family said: “At just 39 years old, our beautiful Kayele has been fighting for her life.
“Twelve years ago, whilst pregnant with her son Archie, Kayele almost died after suffering a tear in her aorta.
“She underwent life-saving surgery and was fitted with mechanical heart valves.
“Against all odds, she survived.
“But earlier this year, tragedy struck again.
“Whilst driving, a large blood clot broke away from Kayele’s heart and travelled to her brain, causing a catastrophic stroke.”
Kayele was rushed to Royal Preston Hospital, where surgeons carried out an emergency thrombectomy, which involves removing the clot from a vein or artery.
But the following day she suffered a devastating brain bleed, forcing her family to make the agonising decision to consent to another life-saving operation.
A decompressive craniectomy was performed to relieve pressure and swelling on her brain, and Kayele was placed in a medically induced coma.
Seven days later, doctors restarted the blood-thinning medication she needs because of her mechanical heart valves. But she suffered another brain bleed and required further emergency surgery.
For 20 agonising days, her loved ones waited and prayed for her to wake up.
Against the odds, Kayele eventually regained consciousness, came off the ventilator and started breathing independently.
She is now being treated at Furness General Hospital in Barrow.
But the stroke has left her paralysed down her right side, while her speech and ability to communicate have been severely affected.
She is receiving physiotherapy and speech therapy, but her family say she urgently needs more intensive specialist neurological rehabilitation.
They have been told private specialist treatment could cost between £4,500 and £8,500 a week, with six months potentially costing up to £221,000.
Kayele has been funded for 12 weeks of NHS rehabilitation, while private medical insurance was unaffordable because of her previous medical history.
Her family are initially aiming to raise £150,000 to help pay for specialist rehabilitation and ongoing recovery support.
They 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.
“Nobody can promise what Kayele’s recovery will look like, but we want to give her every possible opportunity.
“Kayele has already fought for her life twice.
“Now it’s our turn to fight for her future.
“Let’s give Kayele the chance to live, not just survive.”
More than £40,000 had been raised towards the £150,000 target at the time of writing.
Siobhan Rooke, speaking on behalf of Kayele’s family, said: “For someone with injuries as extensive as hers, recovery could take years, and access to continued specialist rehabilitation could make an enormous difference to her future independence and quality of life.
“As Kayele’s friends and family, we refuse to give up on giving her the best possible chance of recovery.
“She had her whole future ahead of her before this unimaginable tragedy, and she has already fought through multiple life-threatening complications – her strength and determination to survive have been nothing short of extraordinary.”
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