Teen Paralyzed After Flu Diagnosis

In December 2025, a then 14-year-old girl from Essex, England, named Lexi Brown, fell ill with flu-like symptoms. Shortly after, she experienced severe pain and was rushed to the hospital, where she was placed in a medically induced coma. Upon waking five days later, she was diagnosed with paralysis from the neck down. Doctors identified the cause as a spinal stroke, a rare condition resulting from disrupted blood flow to the spinal cord. Lexi, now 15, is undergoing intensive physiotherapy and has regained some limb movement. She requires a tracheostomy tube for communication and is unable to perform basic daily activities independently. The family is adapting to her new reality and seeking suitable housing. A fundraiser has been established to support them through this challenging period.