'She is incredible' - Call to help selfless paramedic and mother of one who has suffered a stroke at 24
Young mother faces uncertain future as GoFundMe appeal launched
A young paramedic and mother is facing an uncertain future after suffering a stroke which has left her in intensive care for over a week.
Elisha Oakley, 24, had come off of a nightshift on Friday, May 29 and she spent the day catching up on sleep. When her partner Oliver Broom went to wake her up so they could have dinner together with their three year old son Freddie, Elisha told him she was feeling unwell before being sick. As a paramedic she knew something was seriously wrong and asked for an ambulance to be called.
After being rushed to Southampton General Hospital it was revealed she had suffered a stroke and she underwent emergency surgery to have a stent fitted in an artery. While the surgery was successful the improvement in her condition did not happen as quickly as the doctors had hoped.
Over a week on from the incident, she has been taken off of a ventilator but is still unable to move her left hand side. It has been a shocking week for her family as they come to terms with the news and what the future could look like for Elisha.
Oliver’s auntie, Elisabeth Broom, 42, from Portsmouth, said: “It all happened very quickly and out of the blue. There were no signs other than she had a neck ache earlier in the week which they now think may have been when her arteries had ruptured. It is all a bit confusing.
“She was taken off the ventilator this morning (June 8) which is great news but it is a waiting game, nobody recovers the same way, it is different for everybody. Freddie doesn't understand, he is only three and doesn't know why mummy is not coming home or why she is in the hospital bed, it’s heart-breaking for him.”
Oliver, 25, who is a postman, is spending as much time as possible by Elisha’s side. When Elisabeth asked him how she could help, he asked his auntie if she could manage their finances during this difficult time, a job usually handled by Elisha.
Elisabeth said: “As soon as I looked through the finances I realised, they can’t cope with this. I wanted to start the GoFundMe to relieve the pressure on them monthly and pay off their credit cards and get something behind them as we don’t know what the future will look like and if she will be able to work, walk or talk.
“As I have a bit of a social media following I thought the best way to help would be to spread the word and do the GoFundMe.”
The GoFundMe has received a big response with people rallying around the family. So far just under £14,500 has been raised towards a target of £20,000.
“It is looking amazing, it is allowing me to clear their cards and overdraft for now,” Elisabeth said, “We want to keep it going as they are in a rented property so if they have to have adaptations they wont be able to do it. So there is the potential of a house move and lots of things to think about in the long run.”
For Elisabeth, it was the least she could do for the young couple who live in Chandlers Ford, especially given the amazing selfless work that Elisha does.
She said: “Elisha is an incredible paramedic, she is out there saving lives and helping people in crisis everyday and I just feel like we need to give something back to her.”
More details on the GoFundMe campaign and how to donate can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/elishas-story.