Teen left paralyzed after her severe 'back ache' was sign of rare spinal stroke
New York Post • • health
Key Points:
- Lucy Dunford, a previously fit 21-year-old woman, suffered a rare spinal stroke at 19, leading to paralysis from the chest down and severe nerve pain and muscle spasms.
- Initially experiencing stabbing back pains, Lucy was hospitalized after her condition worsened, eventually losing function in her legs and being diagnosed with a spinal stroke, a condition typically seen in older adults.
- Despite extensive testing, doctors could not determine the cause of her stroke, labeling it idiopathic, and she has since undergone costly stem cell treatment and ongoing physiotherapy.
- Lucy relies on her partner for support and is crowdfunding to fund an intensive ten-week physiotherapy program aimed at helping her regain muscle control and manage spasms and pain.
- She continues to pursue her university studies while coping with significant lifestyle changes and the challenges of living with a spinal cord injury.
