A LITTLE girl was left paralysed and unable to talk after a bout of chickenpox triggered two strokes.
Avy Berry, 6, suffered her first stroke just a few months after catching the common childhood illness.
7
7
7
She first had a transient ischaemic attack – known as a mini stroke – followed by an actual stroke, which meant she had to undergo brain surgery.
The tot was left temporarily paralysed and had to learn how to talk again.
But just a few weeks into her recovery, Avy landed a year-long role on Hollyoaks, playing Scott Drinkwell’s foster daughter Miley Carson.
The brave tot also landed a small cinema role, starring as an extra in Paramount Pictures horror film A Quiet Place: Day One.
Her mum Fearne Collins, 31, said: “We are just proud of her every day – she’s really resilient.”
Fearne first realised that something was wrong with Avy in April 2022.
The tot was asleep but wasn’t very responsive and she couldn’t use one side of her body.
Fearne rang an ambulance but by the time they arrived, Avy’s symptoms had stopped.
The mum was told her little girl could have had viral infection and was having a bad dream.
Fearne, of Middleton, Greater Manchester, then took Avy to A&E and a scan revealed she actually had a mini stroke and she was put on low dose blood thinners.
Avy then had an actual stroke and had brain surgery to correct the blood flow in her brain in October 2022.
Fearne said: “She is on high-dose blood thinners now but that was 18 months ago and she’s been stroke free since which we are really pleased about.
“There is a few things because it is a brain injury, so emotionally she still struggles a bit and she is quite sensitive.
“I think it’s a symptom of the stroke and the brain injury.
7
7
7
“But I also think some of it could be from the medical side because it was quite awful and there’s the trauma of being in hospital.
“She would be asleep and then would wake up every hour for more blood tests and that was really hard, having to hold her down for needles.
“She’s still quite scared if someone is going to hospital.”
‘REALLY SPECIAL’ OPPORTUNITY
Just a few months into her recovery, little Avy landed the role of Miley Carson on Hollyoaks and became an extra in A Quiet Place: Day One.
“She’s not even been able to watch the film, because it’s a horror film, which is quite funny,” Fearne said.
“She can’t even watch herself doing it. But for me, it’s really special that she’s on at the cinema.
“It’s quite special that it’s worldwide because there’s people from all over the world who will watch my little daughter, so it’s quite surreal.
As a parent of a childhood stroke survivor, then I know you think that it isn’t going to be you. But if you have instincts then go and get them checked out
Fearne Collins
“But when we are on set and I’m watching her, I find it quite nerve-wracking because she’s only my baby and she might not be in the mood for it.
“But generally, she does switch on and she does okay on set.
Avy started acting when she was four and Fearne says she enjoys it because she likes “playing” and chatting to people on set.
She said: “She just likes playing – that’s what acting is really.
“I think that’s what she likes to do and to be honest, she does like the centre of attention when she’s on set.
“She does like to talk to all the adults and all the people on set – she likes being around it really.”
RAISING AWARENESS
Fearne is now trying to spread awareness of childhood strokes and is urging parents to get their children checked out if they need to be.
Fearne, who owns acting school Elm Arts Company, said: “As a parent of a childhood stroke survivor, then I know you think that it isn’t going to be you.
“But if you have instincts then go and get them checked out.
“When I was in hospital with Avy, you were only allowed one person in so a lot of time it was just me.
“The only comfort I found was news articles about children that had strokes and to see a positive story, was helpful for me.”
The terrifying side effects of chickenpox and how to protect your child
AN ITCHY and spotty rash is the most recognisable symptom of chickenpox.
The illness happens in three stages.
- Stage one: small red or pink spots appear anywhere on the body, including inside the mouth and around the genitals, which can be painful
- Stage two: the spots fill with fluid and become blisters, which are very itchy and may burst
- Stage three: the spots form a scab
Before or after the rash appears, you might also get:
- A high temperature
- Aches and pains, and generally feeling unwell
- Loss of appetite
Chickenpox will usually get better by itself in one to two weeks without you needing see a GP.
But you should get advice from 111 if:
- The skin around the chickenpox blisters is hot, painful and red – note that redness may be harder to see on brown or black skin
- Your child has chickenpox and is dehydrated
- Chickenpox symptoms suddenly get worse
- You’re pregnant and have not had chickenpox before, or you’re not sure, and you’ve been near someone with chickenpox
- You have a weakened immune system and have been near someone with chickenpox
- You think your newborn baby has chickenpox
Chickenpox complications
Serious complications from chickenpox include:
- Bacterial infections of the skin and soft tissues in children, including Group A streptococcal infections
- Infection of the lungs (pneumonia)
- Infection or swelling of the brain (encephalitis, cerebellar ataxia)
- Bleeding problems (hemorrhagic complications)
- Bloodstream infections (sepsis)
- Dehydration
How to protect your child against chickenpox
Chickenpox will usually be mild, but it can be serious for pregnant women, babies and people with a weakened immune system.
The chickenpox vaccine is recommended to help protect people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from chickenpox.
You’re eligible if all the following apply:
- You’re 9 months old or over
- You’ve not had chickenpox before
- You’re in regular or close contact with someone who’s at risk of getting seriously ill if they get chickenpox, such as a child with leukaemia or an adult having chemotherapy
Sources: NHS, CDC
7
