Stroke AssociationA family from Fife whose baby girl suffered a stroke moments after being born are now preparing to celebrate their daughter’s first birthday.
Kimberley Sim, 34, and her husband John, from Kirkcaldy, were excited to bring home their bundle of joy following a planned caesarean section at Victoria Hospital in May last year.
But just moments after little Eleanor arrived into the world, the newborn was struggling to breathe and was rushed to the neonatal unit.
Doctors reassured the family she was doing well and that they hoped she would be okay by the following morning.
However, the next day Kimberley noticed that Eleanor’s hand was twitching, followed by her foot on one side of her body.
Kimberley said: “Eleanor was otherwise lying motionless, not opening her eyes, stretching or wriggling like a newborn baby should.
“I remember someone saying they thought she was having seizures, and it just didn’t compute in my head – babies don’t have strokes or seizures. That’s something you associate with older people.”
Within hours, Eleanor was moved to intensive care while doctors stabilised her.
She then had an MRI scan which revealed she had had a stroke.
“Although strokes in babies are very rare, they do happen,” said John Watson, associate director for the Stroke Association in Scotland.
“Early diagnosis and access to specialist stroke care are vital. With the right rehabilitation, support for families, and planning for school and beyond, children can be supported to rebuild their lives after stroke.”
Stroke AssociationAround 400 children suffer a stroke in the UK every year, and it can have a lifelong impact.
A stroke can affect how a child moves, speaks, sees, and swallows. It can also affect learning, memory, behaviour, and mood. Some children have visible physical disabilities, such as reduced movement, while others experience hidden effects such as fatigue, cognitive difficulties, emotional challenges, or pain.
Eleanor spent two further weeks in hospital before being allowed to go home.
However, Kimberley says the emotional toll of the incident was “immense”, adding she and her husband “felt alone”.
She said: “You’re given this huge diagnosis and then suddenly you’re expected to just carry on with life.
“It all felt very surreal, and although we were able to find helpful support through the Stroke Association’s online resources, at the time we felt overwhelmed and unsure where to turn specifically around neonatal stroke.”
A year on, Eleanor remains under medical supervision, but is hitting her milestones.
The family is looking forward to celebrating her first birthday on May 30 with a small family gathering and a very special cake featuring a purple stroke awareness ribbon.
A week later, they will head off on a family holiday to make happy new memories around the anniversary of Eleanor’s diagnosis.
The family has also been campaigning to raise funds for stroke services, including the Stroke Association’s childhood stroke support team.
Kimberley added: “Eleanor is our little miracle. We can’t change what happened, but we can use our experience to raise awareness and hopefully create something positive from it.”
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