‘Getting a stroke at age 23 has given me a new perspective'

A young Mullingar woman who has spent the last year in hospital after suffering a stroke and contracting a rare infection says that her struggles have been an “incredible experience” that have given her a fresh perspective on life.

Chloe Greene (23) had recently returned from a holiday in Greece when she had a stroke at home last August.

She was taken to Mullingar hospital initially but when scans showed a clot on her brain she was taken by ambulance with a garda escort to Beaumont Hospital.

Chloe underwent two thrombectomy procedures (in which a clot blocking blood flow to the brain is removed and blood flow restored) and was placed in an induced coma for two weeks in ICU to allow her body time to recover. However, she continued to experience very high temperatures while there and was put under the care of the Infectious Diseases (ID) Department.

Further examination into the cause of the high temperatures revealed that she had an abscess on her spine. As the source of the infection was unknown, Chloe was treated with multiple forms of antibiotics, but in November she began to lose movement in her limbs.

Over time, she required three spinal surgeries to successfully remove the abscess. Her spinal cord was so compressed that it was described as being ‘ribbon thin’ and her surgeons were amazed that she was able to walk at all.

Finally the Infectious Diseases team had enough samples to discover the name of the fungal infection she had – which is called Aspergillus. The fungus is one that is found commonly in the air all around us. It is very rare that it should cause such an infection. It was hard to diagnose but once it was discovered, it was possible to treat effectively.

Chloe’s journey back to health has been long and arduous, but after spending most of the last 12 months in hospital, she is now stable and is responding well to treatment, and is weeks if not days away from being discharged.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, Chloe admitted that she while is she is looking forward to getting home for good, she will have mixed feelings leaving Beaumont Hospital.

“In some ways obviously I want to get back home and get back to a normal life but in other ways I’ve made such good friends and learned so much, it’s almost feels like a home at this stage. But I definitely want to come home soon.”

Chloe was so grateful for the support that she has received in Beaumont that she nominated three of her doctors, Mr Eoghan de Barra and Mr Sam McConkey, consultants in Infectious Diseases, and Ms Cora McNally, consultant physician, for ‘Honour Your Heroes’ awards.

While these three doctors played a central role in Chloe’s recovery, she says that they were supported by a large number of people.

“They’ve really outdone themselves, I can’t thank them enough, especially the people that I was honouring. But there are also so many others, from the surgeon to the radiologist to the tea lady – everyone has just been phenomenal. Not just in a medical sense but they made me feel at ease. They made feel like I was part of the family. They were very, very good.”

Chloe also says that her family, especially her mother Catherine and father Philip, were a major source of comfort when she was feeling low.

“It was difficult for sure. I have a fantastic support network. My family are incredible. I’d be lost without them. Even the nurses and friends I made in hospital were a great support as well. They really made sure that I felt as much at ease as possible.”

Eager to raise awareness that young people can suffer strokes, Chloe, who hopes to return to college next year to become a teacher, says that while the last year has been extremely difficult, she has taken many positives out of what she has gone through.

“It’s been an incredible experience. There’s obviously been some terrible times and stressful times not just for me but for all my family but I have learned so much. You also get a different perspective on things when you go through something like this.”