Louise Bonfield was 37-weeks pregnant when she began experiencing signs of a stroke. Her right arm and leg began tingling. Then one side of her face fell.
The Daily Mail reports that the young British mother suffered bleeding in her brain, and she and her baby almost died. Though doctors were able to save both mother and child, Louise spent four months in a coma after giving birth, according to the report.
The 26-year-old had a normal pregnancy up until her third trimester. According to the report, Bonfield’s doctors initially thought her symptoms were merely a trapped nerve, but as symptoms got worse, Bonfield’s family became worried.
Her mother, Maggie Bonefiled, rushed Louise to the hospital one day after she lost control of her body, the report states.
At the hospital, the young mother “had blood coming from her mouth, nose and ears,” her mother recalled. “It was really upsetting to see.”
“A doctor told us they didn’t have the required equipment so Louise was sent to Romford Hospital,” Maggie continued. “They told us she had to be seen to in 45 minutes, or she could die. I was terrified, not only for my daughter’s life, but for my grandchild’s too.”
As Louise fell in and out of consciousness, she gave birth to her baby girl via emergency C-section, the report states. Immediately, baby Chloe was rushed to the maternity ward while the doctors prepared to perform brain surgery on Louise, according to the report.
The report continues:
When Maggie next saw her daughter, she was in a coma. She was told that she would come out of it when she was ready.
‘I took Chloe to see Louise and lay her on her chest,’ Maggie said. ‘I whispered, “This is your mummy”. I was desperate for them to bond.’
With Chloe’s father not around, Maggie took full responsibility for her granddaughter and sat with her and Louise every day. Then something amazing happened.
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‘One day, I placed Chloe next to Louise like I always did, and she licked her mother’s cheek,’ Maggie said. ‘Suddenly, Louise’s eyes began to flutter. I couldn’t believe it. Chloe had brought her mum out of a coma.’
However Louise looked right through Maggie and took no notice of Chloe. She had no idea who anyone was.
‘I told her Chloe was her baby,’ Maggie said. ‘But she just looked confused and shook her head.
‘Then she pointed to her swollen tummy and I knew she still thought she was pregnant. It was heartbreaking.’
After a life-threatening infection and a second coma, Louise finally began to recover, the report states. It took four months and many therapy sessions for Louise to finally recognize her baby girl, according to the report. The young mother also had to relearn how to walk and talk, the report states.
It has been six years since Louise suffered the stroke and her daughter was born. Her mother, Maggie, has devoted herself to her daughter’s recovery and her granddaughter’s development. After six years, Louise still suffers from seizures. She and Chloe, age 6, are learning how to read and write together, the report states.
Louise said she is grateful to her mother for caring for her and her child.
‘I didn’t think Chloe was my baby but Mum persisted, helping us bond. If it wasn’t for her, I really don’t know would have happened,’ Louise said.
