Healthy man, 38, left with ‘locked-in-syndrome’ after headache turned out to be something far more sinister

A father developed ‘locked-in-syndrome’ after a headache turned out to be something far more sinister.

Gareth Bayley, from Bexley, southeast London, UK, reported struggling with headaches for around a week in April 2022, but shrugged them off at the time as a sign of stress.

However, after he collapsed from a fit while at work, the father-of-two was rushed to hospital where he continued to have several more seizures.

Doctors then told the builder that he had had a stroke, at just the age of 38.

Tragically, his family then learned Gareth had suffered a stroke in his brain stem, the worst possible place, which led to him developing a rare neurological condition known as locked-in syndrome.

Gareth Bayley and his family before his stroke (SWNS)

While a person is fully conscious, the syndrome leaves them almost completely paralysed, with his family describing Gareth as living 'trapped in his own body'.

Medics informed Gareth and his loved ones that it would be unlikely he would ever be able to move again and while he cannot speak or move his limbs, his wife, Karen, says he's 'defied every single expectation' in the past three years.

Overcoming his limitations, Gareth is mentally alert and has regained small but significant functions through his facial expressions.

This has allowed him to communicate with his family as he can blink to spell out words, one letter at a time.

Now, the family are hoping to raise £35,000 (roughly $47,000) for new life-changing equipment which would allow him to progress with his movement even more.

They hope a Functional Electrical Stimulation Bike, sourced in the US, could be the next step in achieving this as the revolutionary rehabilitation device uses electrical pulses to stimulate paralysed muscles.

"Gareth is one in a million to me. He's very outgoing and the life and soul of the party," Karen said. "He was the first one there if anyone needed help.

"He is still him - he’s fully there and remembers everything. It’s just he can’t speak or move."

"It’s been completely life-changing," she continued. "He was 38 and I didn’t associate a stroke with someone that age.

"But you don’t know what can happen overnight, it’s turned our world upside down."

Despite the devastating diagnosis, Karen says her husband is a 'fighter', showing expressions that 'we were told might never happen' like being able to smile and laugh.

His wife hopes the bike would mean Gareth could move back home (SWNS)

"Every small step forward has given us hope that more recovery is possible," she added.

Karen said they have tried to fund getting the bike via the care home Gareth resides in, but due to its high price tag, they were denied - and that it wasn't deemed an 'essential piece of equipment'.

"But to us it is essential. If I can get him this bike it will be amazing," she continued. "It would help increase his muscle strength, prevent pressure sores, improve the movement range with his arms and legs, help his joint mobility, and help his muscle spasms."

With the bike, the family are also hopeful that Gareth may be able to return home to live with them.

Karen added: "It could give Gareth the best possible chance at further recovery, independence, and dignity.

"My husband has expressed that he wants to come home and be with me and the children again.

"But it’s the case of getting the equipment.

"He has physio once a week in his care home and they’ve said if we can get the equipment, I can have training.

"The goal is then to have him back home again."

Donations can be made to fund Gareth's bike here.

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