- - Teen Left Paralyzed, Unable to Speak After Symptoms Dismissed as ‘Period Pain’: ‘Unexpected Tragedy’

Vanessa EtienneJanuary 16, 2026 at 1:51 AM

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Gorman Family / SWNS

Shakira Gorman -

Shakira Gorman started experiencing heavy bleeding and back pain, which she dismissed, thinking her period was starting

The 17-year-old was later hospitalized after struggling to breathe and losing feeling in her arms

She suffered a rare spinal stroke and doctors are now unsure what her future looks like

A “fit and healthy” teenager is fighting for her life after what she believed was “period pain” turned out to be a spinal stroke.

Shakira Gorman, a 17-year-old from England, was at her boyfriend’s home two days before Christmas when she started experiencing bleeding. She initially dismissed it, thinking it was just a heavy period, and continued her day, according to Southwest News Service.

“It all happened so quickly,” her sister-in-law Chloe, 30, said. “The only symptom she had was a bit of shoulder and back pain, she thought it might be backache or her period starting.”

However, Gorman later started struggling to breathe and lost feeling in her arms and hands. She was rushed to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital and immediately placed on a ventilator to help her breathe.

Gorman Family / SWNS

Shakira Gorman

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After a day of testing and her health deteriorating, doctors ultimately determined that Gorman was suffering a spinal stroke.

Spinal strokes, which are very rare and account for less than 1% of all strokes, occur when there is a blockage in the blood supply to the spinal cord, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Those who suffer spinal strokes often experience sudden and intense neck or back pain, muscle weakness, and in severe cases, paralysis. They can be fatal or cause permanent disabilities.

Unfortunately, Gorman was one of those severe cases. She quickly ended up in the hospital’s ICU, paralyzed and unable to speak.

“She is in the high dependency critical care unit and requires breathing tubes and lots of other life saving measures,” her family said on a GoFundMe page. “She is unable to speak and lip reading is required but due to medical equipment this can also be difficult. She has lost movement in both arms and is going to require therapy to retrain her muscles.”

Gorman Family / SWNS

Shakira Gorman with her family

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Doctors placed Gorman on blood thinners and have been monitoring her condition.

“We don’t know what the future holds. At the moment we’re taking each day as it comes,” her older sister Chelsea, 29, told the outlet. “Each day is different – and we are taking one step at a time. Shakira knows everyone is doing all they can to support her.”

“My parents are feeling empty, devastated and they’re still in shock – it’s so unexpected,” she added. “At the moment the hospital can’t say what recovery is going to look like.”

With recovery unknown, Gorman’s family shared an update on Jan. 10 about the “unexpected tragedy,” revealing that the teen is currently on the waiting list to be transferred to Stoke Mandeville Hospital, where she can be in the care of spinal specialists.

“We are all hopeful for her recovery❤️” they said.

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”