Emily was a typical four-year-old. She was energetic, healthy and happy. If she wasn’t making people smile, she was making them laugh! But in November 2023, her little life changed forever.

We spent a month knowing something was seriously wrong with Emily’s health before she was diagnosed with having had a series of strokes over four months.

Emily was fine one moment, but the next she was repeatedly showing signs of something being seriously wrong. It was a normal morning for us, Emily had just had her breakfast and was watching some TV when she came over all strange. A moment I will never forget. Her face dropped on one side, her speech was all slurred and she couldn’t stand up without falling.

At first, I thought Emily was being silly, but something deep down was telling me that this was real. Moments later she seemed fine, but I sat perplexed, knowing that whatever just happened was a warning sign of something more sinister.

We decided to take Emily to A&E, only to be told she was fine. This happened over and over again until one morning we couldn’t wake her properly.   

Emily’s Dad went to wake her up and he struggled to get Emily to full consciousness. Emily couldn’t sit on the toilet, was very sleepy and was looking really poorly. She went back to hospital. After many tests, including a CT and MRI scans, doctors confirmed the worst news: Emily had had multiple strokes. And possibly this last one being the worse, as this time she didn’t come back to her normal self after a few minutes like before. She was left with right sided weakness, and had no speech for two days.    

Emily was taken to another hospital where she spent a week recovering from the stroke.    

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Now at school, Emily is determined to live her life like her friends. Emily is a true superstar. We are in awe of her bravery, determination, and courage she has shown throughout all this. To have been through all what she has at such a young age, and over such a short period of time, is really hard to process. Mentally and physically, Emily has been through what no child should ever have to go through.

Emily has had to relearn a lot of things, but also she has had to adjust her life as she knew it. She now lives with a disability.

We have noticed that Emily can be overstimulated quickly, which can be really upsetting for her. She wears a splint to support her weak arm. And we have had to support her in relearning the basic things we all took for granted before the stroke, like washing her face, going to the toilet, feeding herself, writing, colouring, and getting dressed. What’s more, Emily had to take a six week break from school which was a huge blow to her confidence, but also her learning.

We are so immensely proud of Emily. She does not let her limitations affect her, even though she can get tired, frustrated and emotional quite easily.

As a family, we have had to push through some of the darkest days we have ever faced. I wish what we went through on no other family – and this is why we’re sharing our story, to help others know they’re not alone and to raise awareness of childhood stroke.

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