Hayley’s Story

On 12th June, 2019 Hayley was admitted to hospital whilst working in Ibiza with what they first thought was a urine infection. This progressed rapidly and she began to lose the feeling in her legs and arms. Two days later Hayley was completely paralysed from the neck down and had been heavily sedated. Her lungs had failed and she was now being supported by a ventilator and also being fed through a tube. After spending 2 weeks in intensive care in Ibiza Hayley was then airlifted to a larger hospital in Majorca. Hayley spent 3 weeks in Majorca, where she received special treatment called Plasma Exchange Therapy, a process that cleans the blood in hope to reverse the paralysis. After having 12 sessions Hayley was able to move her right arm and began to feel her left arm again. This was not the result the doctors had hoped for but slowly Hayleys muscles were getting stronger.

Hayley faced obstacles on her journey in Majorca, she suffered a collapsed lung which set her recovery back slightly. However she pulled through and arrangements began to be made to get Hayley home to England to continue her recovery in Canterbury, Kent. Hayley was flown by air ambulance on July 21st 2019.

Since returning to England Hayley has made great improvements. She is now breathing on her own and is able to eat a puréed diet. Hayley doesn’t yet have the stomach muscles to cough so still has a mini tracheotomy fitted to suction fluid off her lungs.

Currently Hayley has no feeling or movement in her legs and requires one to one care throughout the day. The amazing physio team are helping to build her muscles back, working on her arms, hands and core. Hayley has lost all her independence and dignity which she struggles with but the amazing staff keep her going.

After 10 weeks of tests and samples being sent off the neurologists and doctors have told us that 99% of these results have been negative. We may never find out why this happened or what we are dealing with. We have been reassured that Hayley will recover, however to what extent we do not know. The doctors have given a time frame that her time in hospital will be around a year. We stay positive but it may be that the damage will cause life long problems and difficulties. For Hayley this isn’t an option, she is very determined and positive, and we all have hope she will pull through this and make a full recovery. The bravery and strength she has shown has inspired us all, we are so very proud of how she is coping.

We have set up this page to raise money for Hayley and to help pay for any further costs she may incur in her recovery and rehabilitation. As the future is uncertain regarding Hayley’s recovery it may be that we look in to private physiotherapy after her time in hospital or she may require specialist equipment. With this comes a cost, with a specialist neurological rehabilitation home costing £3700+ a week.

Any donations small or big really will make such a difference to Hayley’s recovery and rehabilitation. The pictures attached show Hayley’s progress over these long weeks and months, and as you can see she has made great progress and is still smiling. She is our brave daughter, sister, and friend, and we are so proud of her. Thank you for taking the time to read Hayley’s story.

Please do share this on social media, and if you have any fundraising ideas we would love to hear about them.

Love from Hayley and her family x