Childhood Stroke Strikes Young Footballer

Seven-year-old Louie Clark experienced a sudden and severe health crisis in February 2025 after a football match. Symptoms including dizziness and vomiting led his parents to rush him to the hospital, fearing a blood infection.

However, after several hours, doctors confirmed Louie had suffered a childhood ischaemic stroke, caused by a torn neck artery and a subsequent blood clot. This devastating diagnosis shocked his family.

Louie's condition worsened overnight, leading to an induced coma and transfer to Leeds General Infirmary for life-saving surgery to remove the clot. He subsequently spent 84 days in intensive care and on a neuro ward.

His recovery involved critical procedures, including skull removal to relieve brain pressure. Initially, Louie struggled with basic functions like walking, talking, and seeing. Small victories, like lifting a finger, marked significant progress.

Louie now faces ongoing challenges, including emotional regulation, impulsivity, fear, and vision impairment. His family has adapted their lives to support his recovery, with his mother becoming his full-time caregiver.

His father is advocating for increased awareness of childhood strokes, emphasizing they are life-changing events, not short-term injuries. Despite ongoing fatigue and weakness, Louie remains determined to play football again.