‘Virus left me paralysed and supported by carers’
A YOUNG and healthy woman had her whole life turned upside down when she was left paralysed by a rare virus.
Helen Fincham was just 21 years old when she became paralysed from a rare condition called transverse myelitis.
She had spent the day before her sudden collapse with her niece at Porthcawl beach.
She woke up with a stiff neck and put it down to sleeping in an awkward position.
A few hours later, Helen was lying on her bed with what she thought was a tight chest.
“I have never been ill in my life so I knew something was really wrong,” revealed Helen, now 24.
“I was struggling to breathe and I was having pains in my arm. I phoned the doctor and they said I needed to go straight to hospital. I really started to panic then.”
Paramedics carried out an ECG test on her heart, which was fine, but Helen knew something was wrong and insisted she go to hospital.
Helen had not suffered a fall or experienced anything to bring on the condition, which often occurs after a viral or bacterial infection.
“I was taken to Morriston Hospital in Swansea and they tested my reflexes, but nothing was happening. I was crying, I couldn’t even wipe my tears.”
Helen’s condition, which affects around 300 people a year, is a neurological disorder caused by inflammation in the spinal cord. There is no cure for transverse myelitis, but treatments and rehabilitation can help lessen the symptoms.
Helen spent six months in hospital and 12 months in rehab and has since regained some movement and strength in her arms.
She now lives in a specially adapted flat in Aberkenfig.
“I can move my arms enough to feed myself but I can’t cut up food or prepare anything like that. I need full-on care. I can’t do much independently.”
Three years after the unexplained incident, Helen relies on carers to do most things for her. She receives seven hours of care a day – two hours in the morning, four hours during the day and one hour at night.
“Last year, when it was really hot, I couldn’t even get outside by myself to sit out in the sunshine. I was just stuck inside waiting for my carers to come.
“I rely on people to wash me, dress me, move me, get me out of the car.
“I am so appreciative of the care I receive, but I just want to be able to do things for myself like any other 24-year-old.
Helen is determined to get stronger so she can be more independent, but with only 15 minutes of NHS physiotherapy a week, it is proving hard.
“I feel guilty for asking for support but it is not a broken leg that I can fix in six weeks. I need physio to help me get stronger, and hopefully once I am more able, I can get stronger naturally.”
Helen’s friend Simon Green has set up a fundraising page for Helen to support her private treatment.
Simon will be competing in his wheelchair at the New Forest Marathon on September 8 and the Bournemouth Marathon on October 6.
And this month he will also be completing four 10ks and one half marathon.
All the money raised will go towards Helen’s physiotherapy.
To donate, go to https:// www.justgiving.com/fundraising/simon-green57