Rare spinal stroke leaves 27-year-old paralysed

A 27-year-old Swedish woman has been left paralysed after suffering a rare spinal stroke during a job interview, a condition that affects fewer than 100 people in Sweden each year, SVT Nyheter reports.

Rebecca Waller suddenly experienced severe upper back pain in January, followed by hyperventilation and breathing difficulties within two hours. Initially suspected of having a panic attack, she later lost sensation from her shoulders down. Doctors diagnosed a spinal cord infarction—a stroke affecting the spinal cord—leaving her paralysed.

“At first, I had terrible thoughts about how life would look going forward,” Waller said. “But I tried not to panic because there was nothing I could do.”

Her story, shared on social media, has reached millions worldwide, garnering support from strangers and funding for rehabilitation and home adaptations. “So many people are cheering me on, and that has helped me incredibly,” she said. “Everyone has their own journey, but the support means a lot.”

Medical outlook and recovery hopes

Alexander Zabala, a neurology specialist at Karolinska University Hospital, confirmed the condition is extremely rare, particularly in young people, and typically occurs in older adults or as a complication from aortic surgery. There is no acute treatment, with rehabilitation being the primary focus.

“Studies show about half of patients regain the ability to walk, and around 40 percent of wheelchair users eventually recover some walking function,” Zabala said.

Waller, who got engaged months before the stroke, remains determined to walk down the aisle at her planned wedding next year. “I want the wedding we’ve dreamed of, and I want to walk to the altar myself. I’ll fight as hard as I can to make that happen.”

Despite the setback, she views her experience as a reminder to embrace life. “If they had scanned me that day, they wouldn’t have seen anything wrong. This is a reminder to live life to the fullest and not wait to do what you want.”