A former professional dancer who trained stars on Strictly Come Dancing has been left unable to walk after suffering a severe stroke. Jane Bullock, 60, collapsed at her home in Wolverhampton in August last year after teaching a dance class.
Her husband, Warren, told the BBC that her life had been 'destroyed' within minutes. He found her staggering across the room before falling to the floor, with her mouth drooping and only able to move one arm and one leg. She was rushed to New Cross Hospital and later transferred to Royal Stoke University Hospital, where doctors discovered a blood clot in her carotid artery and a midline shift in her brain.
Part of her skull was removed to relieve swelling, and she spent about a month on life support and a ventilator. Seven months on, Jane remains paralysed on her left side and has cognitive difficulties, including an inability to tell the time or use a TV remote. She has become severely depressed, feeling she has lost everything.
Warren, who gave up his job to care for her, said the cost of 24-hour care is around £2,000 per week, which they cannot afford. He described the situation as a financial and emotional struggle, adding: 'It's destroyed her life, but it's impacted mine massively too.' A GoFundMe appeal has raised over £46,000 to adapt their home and support Jane's needs.
The couple, who ran the ZigZag Dance Factory, trained professionals for both Strictly Come Dancing and the US version Dancing With the Stars. Their Channel 5 show Baby Ballroom was later streamed on Netflix in over 40 countries.
