Stress from money troubles left Wakefield woman unable to walk or talk

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A Wakefield woman with money worries was left unable to walk or talk after the stress triggered a rare neurological condition.

Danni Cooper had been feeling anxious about her finances for months before she lost the use of her legs and was rushed to hospital.

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Her ordeal began when she arrived home from work in April 2024, feeling dizzy but put her symptoms down to hunger.

But the fit and healthy 21-year-old found herself struggling to walk to the kitchen and called her sister Mollie Harris, 26, a chef.

Danni Cooper had been feeling anxious about her finances for months before she lost the use of her legs and was rushed to hospital. (SWNS)Danni Cooper had been feeling anxious about her finances for months before she lost the use of her legs and was rushed to hospital. (SWNS)
Danni Cooper had been feeling anxious about her finances for months before she lost the use of her legs and was rushed to hospital. (SWNS)

They went straight to A&E where Danni claims her symptoms were dismissed as a ‘migraine’ made worse by ‘being on her period’.

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The following morning the former support worker woke-up having lost the ability to walk or talk. Fearing a stroke, she went to Pinderfields Hospital, but all scans came back clear.

After spending a month on a ward, Danni was finally diagnosed with functional neurological disorder (FND) – a condition that causes problems with the brain sending and receiving information.

Doctors who treated her believed financial stress triggered by the cost of living crisis were to blame for her ''out of the blue'' symptoms.

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The fit and healthy 21-year-old found herself struggling to walk. (SWNS)The fit and healthy 21-year-old found herself struggling to walk. (SWNS)
The fit and healthy 21-year-old found herself struggling to walk. (SWNS)

Her speech returned after nearly a week, but she still struggles to walk and needs a wheelchair for long distances.

Danni, who can no longer work due to her condition, said: "I had been worrying for a long time about money.

"I was having to choose between food or petrol in order to get to work - the cost of living crisis hit me hard.

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"I fell into a deep depression at one point, crying every day and it most likely triggered the condition.

Danni said her brain basically shut down. (SWNS)Danni said her brain basically shut down. (SWNS)
Danni said her brain basically shut down. (SWNS)

“FND is like when a computer has too many tabs open, and it crashes.

“My brain basically shut down and stop communicating with my body.

"My life changed overnight."

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Danni had suffered from migraines since she was young - experiencing two or three a month.

While working at her previous job as a support worker in April 2024, she thought she was coming down with one.

After arriving home, she felt ‘'shaky and dizzy’' but put it down to not eating much that day.

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She said: “I lay on my bed and the room was spinning. I called my sister who told me to make a sandwich and she’d be right over.

“But my legs felt like jelly as I walked to the kitchen, and I was slurring when she arrived."

After calling 111, sister Mollie took Danni to Pinderfields A&E.

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After being examined, Danni claims the doctor put her issues down to having a “migraine”.

She said: “My sister was having to prop me up because I couldn’t walk.

“They said my period was making the migraine worse, and I was sent home with strong ibuprofen.”

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The following morning, Danni woke-up completely unable to walk or talk.

Her boyfriend, Oliver Spink, 22, spent the night, and called an ambulance the following morning.

Once again, she was told it could be a ‘migraine’ my medics down the phone.

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Danni’s boyfriend took her back to A&E where she waited for 14 hours to see a stroke nurse and was admitted overnight for tests.

She said: “Oliver had to help me shower because I couldn’t use my arms.

“I lost my speech for a week, and I was having to type on my phone. It was really terrifying because no one knew what was wrong.”

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After performing an MRI, CT scan, and electroencephalogram (EEG) – a is a test that measures electrical activity in the brain – doctor ruled out a stroke and the neurological condition multiple sclerosis.

Danni spent a month Pinderfields Hospital, until a doctor finally diagnosed her with FND.

The symptoms can vary from person to person, which can include limb weakness, seizures, tremors, facial spasms and issues with speech and swallowing.

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“Doctors think it was most likely triggered by stress,” Danni said.

“I was stressing over money a lot and had previous had depression. It was good to have a diagnosis, but it’s a life-long condition.

“I have times when I’m better, but it can flare-up and will always be there.”

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Danni regained her speech and ability to walk, but still uses a stick or wheelchair to get about.

She still experiences tremors and had to move house to a more accessible building.

Danni said: “I’m slowly building up my strength so I can gain some independence and hopefully, start driving again.

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“Not all disabilities are visible, and I get funny looks for using a blue badge sometimes.

“A lot of doctors still don’t know what FND is. It’s a lesser-known condition but I hope I can raise awareness.”

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