A mother of two from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, has been left paralysed down one side of her body after a catastrophic stroke, prompting her family to launch a £150,000 fundraising appeal for specialist rehabilitation.
Kayele Sheppard, 39, was airlifted to hospital after a blood clot travelled to her brain. The following day she suffered a major brain bleed and required emergency surgery. She is currently receiving treatment at Furness General Hospital in Barrow.
Medical History and Emergency Procedures
Twelve years ago, while 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. Earlier this year, while driving, a large blood clot broke away from her heart and travelled to her brain, causing the stroke.
She was rushed to Royal Preston Hospital, where surgeons performed an emergency thrombectomy, a procedure to remove the clot from a vein or artery. The next day, she suffered a brain bleed, leading to a decompressive craniectomy to ease pressure and swelling. She was placed in a medically induced coma.
Recovery and Rehabilitation Needs
Seven days later, doctors restarted her blood-thinning medication, but she suffered another brain bleed and needed further surgery. After 20 days, Kayele regained consciousness, was taken off the ventilator, and began breathing on her own. The stroke has left her paralysed down her right side, and her speech and communication have been drastically affected.
She is undergoing physiotherapy and speech therapy, but her family say she urgently requires more intensive specialist neurological rehabilitation. Private treatment could cost between £4,500 and £8,500 a week, with six months of care potentially reaching £221,000. Kayele has been funded for 12 weeks of NHS rehabilitation.
Fundraising Appeal
The family is initially hoping to raise £150,000 to contribute towards specialist rehabilitation and ongoing recovery support. More than £40,000 had been raised at the time of writing. Siobhan Rooke, speaking on behalf of the 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."
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." They added: "Now it's our turn to fight for her future. Let's give Kayele the chance to live, not just survive."
