Six-year-old Hollyoaks star left paralysed by stroke that doctors say was triggered by an extremely common childhood viral infection READ MORE: Mother, 58, distraught after fat-melting jabs triggered a infection By Rebecca Whittaker For Mailonline Published: 12:42, 23 July 2024 | Updated: 12:45, 23 July 2024 e-mail View comments A six-year-old girl had to learn how to talk again after suffering a stroke which left her temporarily paralysed following a chickenpox infection. Child actor Avy Berry, from Middleton, Greater Manchester, has to undergo life-saving brain surgery — but made a remarkable recovery. Recently, she secured a year-long stint on Channel 4's Hollyoaks, playing Scott Drinkwell's foster daughter, Miley Carson.
It's thought the stroke was triggered by chickenpox, which she caught four months before. Every year around 400 children in the UK have a stroke and in rare cases infections, such as chickenpox, can increase the risk, according to Stroke Association. Six-year-old Avy Berry had to learn how to talk again after she suffered from both a transient ischaemic attack — known as a mini stroke — and a stoke.
Just a few weeks into her recovery, Avy landed a year-long role on Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks playing character Scott Drinkwell's foster daughter Miley Carson (pictured) In October 2022, Avy had a stroke and had surgery to correct the blood flow in her brain Avy's mum Fearne Collins, 31, realised that something was wrong with Avy in April 2022 when she became unresponsive while she slept and could not use one side of her body. Ms Collins rang an ambulance but by the time they arrived, her symptoms had stopped so they suggested it was a viral infection and she was having a bad dream. She then took Avy to A&E and a scan revealed she actually had a mini stroke and she was put on low dose blood thinners.
SIGNS OF STROKE IN CHILDREN It is important to know the warning signs of another stroke. The FAST test can be used to help identify strokes in children. Face: Can the young person smile? Has their face fallen on one side? Arms: Can they raise both arms and keep them there? Speech: Can they speak clearly and understand what you say? Is their speech slurred? Time: If you see any one of these three signs, it’s time to call 999.
Other symptoms include: Sudden, severe headache. Seizures (fits). New and sudden vertigo, dizziness, or confusion.
Problems with walking or balance. Nausea/vomiting, drowsiness, or loss of consciousness. Sudden blurred vision or loss of sight in both eyes.
Weakness or numbness on one side of the body. Changes in sensation, like pins and needles in arms or legs. Source: Stroke Association Advertisement In October 2022, Avy then had a full stroke and had brain surgery to correct the blood flow in her brain.
Ms Collins said: 'She is on high-dose blood thinners now but that was 18 months ago and she's been stroke free since which we are really pleased about. 'There is a few [lasting symptoms] because it is a brain injury so emotionally she still struggles a bit and she is quite sensitive. 'But I also think some of it could be from the medical side because it was quite awful and there's the trauma of being in hospital.
'She would be asleep and then would wake up every hour for more blood tests and that was really hard, having to hold her down for needles. 'She's still quite scared if someone is going to hospital.' Ms Collins asked her doctors why it had happened and was told the most likely trigger was the chickenpox infection she'd suffered.
Chickenpox, caused by the varicella-zoster virus, is a common childhood infection and in most will cause an illness — characterised by a body-wide rash of itchy red spots — that last one to two weeks. However complications include skin infections occur in one in ten cases and pneumonia, a potentially life-threatening lung condition, hits one in 20. In two per cent of cases, the virus can cause swelling of the brain known as encephalitis.
It has been also linked to an increased risk of childhood stroke for around six months after the infection, but this is extremely rare, according to Stroke Association. It adds that other serious infections such as bacterial meningitis, encephalitis and sepsis can also increase the risk of stroke in children. A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off.
This kills the brain cells which can affect how the body works, as well as, how you think and feel. Weakness of one side of the body, pins and needles in the arms and legs, seizures and blurred vison are all warning signs of stroke in children. Just a few weeks into her recovery, Avy landed a year-long role on Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks playing character Scott Drinkwell's foster daughter Miley Carson.
She's also recently been seen in cinemas when she starred as an extra in Paramount Pictures horror film A Quiet Place: Day One. Avy started acting when she was four and Ms Collins says she enjoys it because she likes 'playing' and talking to 'all the people on set.' Ms Collins , who owns acting school Elm Arts Company, said: 'She just likes playing - that's what acting is really.
'I think that's what she likes to do and to be honest, she does like the centre of attention when she's on set. 'She does like to talk to all the adults and all the people on set — she likes being around it really.' Avy started acting when she was four and Ms Collins says she enjoys it because she likes 'playing' and talking to 'all the people on set' She's also recently been seen in cinemas when she starred as an extra in Paramount Pictures horror film A Quiet Place: Day One (pictured) Ms Collins is now trying to spread awareness of childhood strokes and is urging parents to get their children checked out if they need to be.
She said: 'As a parent of a childhood stroke survivor, then I know you think that it isn't going to be you. 'But if you have instincts then go and get them checked out. 'When I was in hospital with Avy, you were only allowed one person in so a lot of time it was just me.
'The only comfort I found was news articles about children that had strokes and to see a positive story, was helpful for me.' Share or comment on this article: Six-year-old Hollyoaks star left paralysed by stroke that doctors say was triggered by an extremely common childhood viral infection e-mail Add comment.
