A 22-year-old woman went to bed feeling fine and woke with half her face

Lillie Thorne is currently recovering at home after a sudden health crisis left her unable to walk or speak. The 22-year-old healthcare assistant from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England, went to bed feeling fine. She woke up the next morning with the left side of her face drooping. This sudden change in her physical state marked the beginning of a difficult medical journey.

As reported by Unilad, her auntie, Ashleigh Thorne, noted how unexpected the situation was for the family. “What is so heartbreaking is that it is completely random, it came out of nowhere,” she said. Ashleigh also mentioned that Lillie was fit and healthy before this incident.

Lillie went to the hospital on October 2, where doctors initially diagnosed her with Bell’s palsy. They prescribed her steroids and suggested she might return to normal within six months. This diagnosis did not hold up for long as her condition changed rapidly. She started slurring her words the very next day. Medical staff performed a CT scan to check for a stroke, but the results showed no evidence of one.

She started having up to 30 seizures a day

Doctors then suspected she had Ramsay Hunt disease and provided antiviral medication. Her health continued to worsen despite the treatment. By October 7, Lillie had lost the ability to speak and walk. She also started having up to 30 seizures a day.

Medical professionals eventually diagnosed Lillie with Functional Neurological Disorder, or FND. This is a brain-based disorder that changes how the brain sends, receives, and processes messages. It occurs when there is a communication issue between the brain and the body. While the exact cause of FND remains unclear, doctors believe stress could have played a role in Lillie’s case.

“To see her as a shell of her normal self has been heartbreaking for everyone,” Ashleigh said. She also mentioned that Lillie remains positive and keeps her sense of humor.

Lillie left the hospital on October 22. She has reportedly regained her ability to speak, though her speech is still slurred. She still cannot walk and continues to experience seizures. Her family is now working to raise money through a GoFundMe page to pay for private consultation and rehabilitation. Lillie does not meet the requirements to receive this specific treatment through the National Health Service.

“Treatment for FND focuses on retraining the brain and nervous system using a team of specialists to help sufferers regain control of their movements,” Ashleigh added. The family and her close friends are focused on finding the right support to help Lillie recover. “I think I speak for the whole family and Lillie’s close friends when we say it’s been hard to see Lillie go from a normal 22-year-old to being unable to walk and suffering from multiple seizures a day,” she said.