Boy, 2, makes "remarkable recovery" from rare stroke
Carter Bayley was saved by doctors at Southampton Children's Hospital
Last updated 15th Feb 2024
A boy who suffered a rare stroke at the age of two has been saved by doctors in Southampton.
Carter Bayley was having a bath when his parents noticed a sudden drop on the right-hand side of his face.
Initially thinking it was an allergic reaction, they gave him a dose of Piriton and his face returned to normal, but moments later Carter's face dropped again.
Carter's mother Elise said: "I think I knew it was a stroke after that, I remembered seeing the Act FAST campaign featuring an older gentleman on TV and it looked the same.
"I had never heard of a toddler having a stroke before, but I just knew we had to get him to hospital."
Carter had suffered an arterial ischemic stroke on the left-hand side of his brain, a rare form of stroke that effects fewer than 100 children a year in the UK.
He was admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit at Southampton Children's Hospital where he was put into a medically induced coma.
Carter was stabilised and neuro-protected - a strategy which aims to slow the progression of the loss of brain neurons.
After four days of round-the-clock care, he started an intensive rehabilitation programme.
Dr Georgina Bird-Lieberman, consultant paediatric neurologist, said: "Carter suffered a severe stroke and was initially put to sleep in intensive care to protect his brain.
"When he was woken, he was unable to communicate and was severely weak on the right side of his body.
"It was important that the Southampton Children’s Integrated Rehabilitation Team started his rehabilitation as soon as possible."
Initially Carter could not communicate or walk and struggled with his right sided weakness, particularly his right arm.
After six weeks of intense daily rehabilitation, he was making progress with his speech, had partial use of his right hand back and could take a few aided steps.
Having astounded medics with the speed of his recovery, Carter is now back home in Crowthorne in Berkshire and continuing his rehabilitation as an outpatient.
Carter’s father, Lawrence, said: "I can't explain how we feel about the whole team at Southampton Children's Hospital.
"Carter is now back to the happy little boy he was, laughing and playing.
"He's still got a long way to go, but when I see that smile on his face, we couldn't ask for more than that."