Before her stroke, Kate was an active 42-year-old working in public health, regularly running and enjoying camping holidays with her family and spent her weekends at the Rotherham Parkrun she had helped to set up.
In December 2021, Kate survived a major bleed in her brainstem. She woke from an induced coma with locked-in syndrome which meant she could see, hear and understand everything, but couldn’t move or speak. After 5 months in hospital and 6 months in a neurorehabilitation facility with limited physiotherapy and OT she made astonishing progress from being completely paralysed to taking her first steps. However, on her return home she was only able to walk with a large frame, needing assistance for daily tasks such as showering and getting dressed.
Determined to regain independence, Kate privately funded specialist rehabilitation from MOTIONrehab, where she had access to specialist technology, a supportive expert team and was able to work towards clear goals. When that programme came to an end, and with the help of MOTIONrehab, she was able to apply for a grant at STEPS Rehabilitation Foundation; funding a further 12 weeks of intensive outpatient neurorehabilitation.