IT STARTED WITH A SORE NECK... NOW HELEN IS PARALYSED
ACOUPLE said “their world turned upside down” when their 21-year-old daughter was left paralysed by a rare virus.
Helen Fincham, from Pencoed, Bridgend, woke up one morning in August with a sore neck and put it down to sleeping in an odd position.
But when she began to get a tight chest and thought she may be having a heart attack, she rang her parents, who rushed home.
Within minutes, Helen had tingling in her arms and legs and could not breathe properly.
It was only when she collapsed to the floor that she realised she couldn’t walk and has been paralysed ever since.
She had been on holiday just two weeks before to Ibiza with her friends, and her parents Sarah and Steve Fincham said she had been fit and healthy.
Now they are trying to raise awareness of the rare condition transverse myelitis which left Helen tetraplegic.
The condition, which affects around 300 people a year, is a neurological disorder caused by inflammation in the spinal cord.
The cause of the condition remains unknown, but it often occurs after a viral or bacterial infection.
There is currently no cure for transverse myelitis, but treatments and rehabilitation can help with recovery and lessen the symptoms.
Helen is now receiving treatment at Rookwood Hospital in Cardiff, where she will have physio and hydro therapy for at least six months.
Three months on and Helen has now got some movement back in her arms and feeling in her legs but is still classed as tetraplegic.
Although one doctor told Helen’s parents she may never walk again, they remain hopeful after finding out more about the condition.
Steve said Helen has baffled doctors, who still don’t completely understand what happened.
He said: “She was rushed to hospit tal and they kept her at Bridgend’s Princess of Wales Hospital for two days, as they had not come across this before.
“Two doctors with 60 years’ experience had not seen anything like this.
“She was then transferred to Morriston neurology department and spent two months in a bed, with still no movement.
“Tests after tests were done, and we waited a month for all the results to come back to be told they were all negative and we still didn’t have an answer to the problem.”
Steve added: ““Our world has been tu turned upside down.
“The worst thing for me as her dad, who has always been in control, is not having control over any decisions. Even getting Helen home for Christmas is a struggle.
“Your life skills are thrown out of the window and you have to start all over again.
“But we shall remain positive for our lovely, beautiful Helen.”
Sarah said it was the difficulty of not knowing what to do throughout the ordeal that was the worst part.
She said: “Being a mum is the toughest part.
“Not being able to help your daughter with the simple things people take for granted is tough.
“Never in a million days did I ever think I would go through this, with the family all fit, well and healthy it’s tough to understand and believe, but we all have to be strong for Helen.”
Sarah and Steve are hoping to get Helen home for Christmas and to get her out and about again.
In the meantime, her sister Jessica, 26, has set up an online fundraising page to try to help fund her treatment and add alterations to the house for her wheelchair.
More than £1,800 has been raised so far – nearly double the £1,000 target.
Brother Michael, 24, who is in the Army, is also hoping to help by taking part in a mountain climb.
To donate, see https://uk. gofundme. com/ 72- t ransversemyelitis