With thoughts of her upcoming wedding foremost in her mind, Rebecca Waller initially shrugged off the crushing pain that suddenly hit her upper back during a work call on a Friday afternoon in January this year.<\/p>\n
She tried to continue the call – \u2018I didn\u2019t want to be rude and hang up, but the pain got worse and worse,\u2019 says Rebecca, 27, who was working from her home in London<\/a> that day.<\/p>\n \u2018After the 30-minute call, I really didn\u2019t feel well and needed to lie down. I had pins and needles going through my arms.<\/p>\n \u2018My hands started curling and I couldn\u2019t hold a glass of water. I knew something was seriously wrong.<\/p>\n \u2018I called my fianc\u00e9, James, but could barely speak. I thought I was going to die.\u2019<\/p>\n James, who was at his home ten minutes away, immediately called for an ambulance and ran over – arriving just as paramedics pulled up. They found Rebecca on her bed, clutching her chest, writhing in pain and saying she didn\u2019t want to die.<\/p>\n The paramedics encouraged Rebecca to breathe slower.<\/p>\n \u2018They said I was having a panic attack, so I believed them,\u2019 she recalls.<\/p>\n Rebecca Waller was planning for the future with her husband-to-be James when she suffered a spinal stroke<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The stroke, which happens when\u00a0signals between the brain and the spinal cord are disrupted, left Rebecca paralysed from the neck down<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u2018But it didn\u2019t make sense to me. I\u2019m not an anxious person and I wasn\u2019t stressed at work. If anything, I\u2019d never felt more happy and relaxed – James and I were due to get married and we\u2019d booked the wedding venue the day before.\u2019<\/p>\n Rebecca began hyperventilating again and ran to the bathroom, where she vomited \u2013 the last steps she ever took, as suddenly she became unable to move, paralysed from the shoulders down.<\/p>\n For almost two hours, paramedics tried to get her to move herself, unaware of the severity of her condition.<\/p>\n Rebecca says: \u2018I wanted to move but my body just wouldn\u2019t, it was like it lost connection with my brain.\u2019<\/p>\n More paramedics were called to help lift her, and Rebecca was carried into a wheelchair and taken to Charing Cross Hospital.<\/p>\n It was only after scans that doctors discovered the terrifying truth.<\/p>\n Rebecca had suffered a spinal stroke \u2013 this is where blood flow to the spinal cord is suddenly blocked, depriving nerve tissue of oxygen, explains Dr Steve Allder, a consultant neurologist at Re:Cognition Health clinic in Harley Street, London (and previously for Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust).<\/p>\n \u2018Spinal strokes are less common than strokes in the brain – but can be equally serious, even more so in some cases, often carrying a higher risk of long-term mobility challenges.\u2019<\/p>\n In Rebecca\u2019s case, doctors deduced that a tiny fragment of cartilage from her spine had chipped off and blocked the blood flow.<\/p>\n \u2018The shock of this was unbelievable,\u2019 says Rebecca.<\/p>\n \u2018One moment I was planning invitations for our wedding next summer [2027], the next I was lying in intensive care, paralysed.<\/p>\n \u2018I could only move my neck and had a tiny twitch in my right arm. Everything else below my shoulders was frozen.\u2019<\/p>\n She adds: \u2018The first days were a blur. I think I was in denial at first and part of me hoped that I would just wake up the next day and everything would be fine.\u2019<\/p>\n Three months on and Rebecca has sensation below her shoulders but cannot feel temperature or pain – and cannot move her arms, let alone walk.<\/p>\n \u2018It still doesn\u2019t seem real,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n With a spinal stroke, signals between the brain and the spinal cord are disrupted, which leads to a rapid onset of neurological symptoms such as weakness, numbness, or paralysis below the affected spinal level. The nerve cells become damaged or die, so the muscles are no longer getting messages from the brain.<\/p>\n Rebecca and James had gotten engaged while on holiday in Greece after meeting each other nine years earlier<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In Rebecca\u2019s case the blockage was high in her spine but doctors had no idea what had happened to cause this \u2013 she hadn\u2019t fallen or had any trauma to that area.<\/p>\n Other risk factors for a spinal stroke are similar to those for brain stroke, such as furred-up arteries and blood-clotting disorders. Certain infections, such as shingles, and inflammatory conditions can also damage or inflame blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the spinal cord, says Dr Allder. \u2018When the vessels are inflamed or damaged, the passage of oxygen-rich blood is reduced or stopped, leading to nerve cell injury or death,’ he says.<\/p>\n Dr Allder says symptoms typically appear suddenly. They may include severe, sudden back or neck pain, numbness or pins and needles in the arms or legs, loss of bladder or bowel control and sensory changes, such as difficulty feeling touch or temperature.<\/p>\n He adds: \u2018Spinal strokes are most often seen in adults over 50, particularly those with underlying cardiovascular risk factors or following surgery. It is very unusual for a young, healthy adult to experience one.<\/p>\n \u2018Spinal strokes are just as urgent as brain strokes and getting the right treatment quickly is critical to restore blood flow, limit nerve damage and improve the chances of recovery and prevent permanent paralysis.<\/p>\n \u2018Recognition of spinal strokes is generally low, even among healthcare providers. And some people delay seeking help, mistaking symptoms such as sudden back pain, weakness, or numbness for a minor issue like muscle strain or \u201cjust\u201d backache.\u2019<\/p>\n Treatment focuses on restoring blood flow to the spinal cord. Dr Allder adds: \u2018This can include stabilising blood pressure and oxygen levels, blood-thinning medications if a clot is suspected \u2013 and in some cases, surgery to relieve pressure on the spine or treat problems with the blood vessels – such as a blockage – followed by intensive rehabilitation.’<\/p>\n Just how an individual is affected depends on the nature of the stroke. For instance, the signals controlling movement travel along different routes in the spinal cord, and some may be less damaged than others – which is why recovery can happen unevenly.<\/p>\n This explains why Rebecca has some sensation below her shoulders but cannot feel temperature or pain.<\/p>\n Dr Allder explains: \u2018Recovery is usually gradual and can continue for months to years. Most substantial recovery occurs within the first three to six months, but ongoing improvement is possible.\u2019<\/p>\n Rebecca was in intensive care for six weeks and is now in a rehabilitation centre.<\/p>\n She says: \u2018It takes a long time to get me into a wheelchair and outside, but I\u2019m moving slowly forward.\u2019<\/p>\n As part of her physiotherapy sessions, Rebecca is using electric stimulation applied to her hands, arms, back and legs to help reconnect the signals between her brain and her limbs.<\/p>\n \u2018My muscles are still there, but they\u2019ve weakened a lot after weeks in hospital,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n \u2018My nerves are confused and don\u2019t know where to send messages. The electric stimulation helps guide them, slowly teaching my body how to move again.\u2019<\/p>\n Her life is now a million miles from where it was three months ago.<\/p>\n Originally from Stockholm, Rebecca moved to London in 2019 and had been working in a fast-paced role helping companies find and recruit senior-level staff for the past three years.<\/p>\n \u2018When I wasn\u2019t working, I enjoyed exercising, going for long walks, socialising and just being outside.\u2019<\/p>\n Rebecca and James, also 27, met nine years ago but got engaged in Greece in September.<\/p>\n \u2018We climbed to the top of Mount Eros and James tricked me into taking a photo, while he got down on one knee,\u2019 recalls Rebecca. \u2018He had to ask twice as I was so shocked!\u2019<\/p>\n The couple were about to move in together before her stroke, \u2018but now we need to find somewhere more accessible for me, for when I\u2019m finally discharged\u2019, says Rebecca.<\/p>\n She adds: \u2018I so want to be married to James, even more now that this has happened because it\u2019s shown me how precious life is.<\/p>\n \u2018We might have a small family wedding first, as soon as I\u2019m well enough. But we\u2019d love a big wedding one day, so I can walk down the aisle in front of all our family and friends.\u2019<\/p>\n She adds: \u2018Doctors haven\u2019t said I won\u2019t walk again and I\u2019m relieved they haven\u2019t. They said it\u2019s hard for them to give me a prognosis.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018I could only move my neck and had a tiny twitch in my right arm. Everything else below my shoulders was frozen,’ says Rebecca<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Rebecca says she is more determined than ever to marry James and hopes she may be able to walk down the aisle<\/p>\n<\/div>\n James has been by Rebecca\u2019s side every day. \u2018My parents flew in from Norway to see me and my sister visited from Stockholm, too. They were scared to see how affected I was and were relieved I was still of sound mind.\u2019<\/p>\n While the NHS has stabilised her and given her a foundation for recovery, Rebecca will need months of specialised neurological rehab – including intensive physiotherapy to rebuild strength and coordination, occupational therapy to relearn daily activities, and exercises to improve her balance and motor control – along with adaptive equipment and a full-time carer at home.<\/p>\n Stem cell treatments, aimed at repairing or supporting damaged nerve tissue, and other therapies may also be explored to maximise her recovery.<\/p>\n To give Rebecca the best chance to walk again, her sister Caroline set up a GoFundMe page, while Rebecca has also started sharing her story on Instagram.<\/p>\n \u2018I was scared to share photos of me looking so vulnerable, like my photos in intensive care,\u2019 says Rebecca.<\/p>\n \u2018But 17 million people viewed my story in a week and the donations started flooding in.<\/p>\n \u2018So far over \u00a3180,000 has been donated and I\u2019m grateful for every single donation.\u2019<\/p>\n Rebecca has seen encouraging milestones.<\/p>\n She can lift her forearms slightly \u2013 though not enough to use a spoon, for instance, so she has to be helped to eat and drink.<\/p>\n \u2018On Easter Friday, which was exactly three months after my stroke, a few of my fingers on both hands started moving,\u2019 she says.<\/p>\n \u2018Every tiny improvement feels like a victory and the wedding is my motivator.<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019ve been told I should be able to leave the rehab centre in about four weeks\u2019 time. For now, I\u2019m taking each day at a time. There are days when I get upset and cry, but my amazing support system helps keep me sane.\u2019<\/p>\n Rebecca says thinking about the future is the hardest part: \u2018It feels scary and uncertain. I\u2019d always imagined having children with James but that now seems very far away. Who knows if that\u2019s still something I\u2019m able to do in years to come?<\/p>\n \u2018I hope that I can – but I can only wait and see how my recovery goes.\u2019<\/p>\n To donate to Rebecca\u2019s fund, visit: <\/span><\/span>gofundme.com\/rebeccas-recovery-enxsx<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2026\/04\/10\/16\/107799877-15722635-image-a-71_1775835396630.jpg\")
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