Mom left brain damaged and wheelchair bound after giving birth completes charity walk

By Adam Dutton via SWNS

A mom who was told she would be wheelchair-bound for life after she was left brain damaged while giving birth has defied the odds to complete a charity WALK.

Rachel Harry, 40, suffered a heart attack during the birth of her daughter Freya in July 2012 after an undetected blood clot led to hypoxic brain injury.

Doctors told her devastated family that the first-time mom would be unlikely to walk again, be able to sit up or feed herself.

But Rachel has battled back against the odds and walked 400 yards unaided after she turned 40.

On June 11, she raised £410 ($495) for the Clwyd Special Riding Centre - a charity very close to Rachel’s heart.

Inspiring footage shows nine-year-old Freya encouraging her hero mom to complete the challenge.

Heartwarming footage captured the moment Rachel walked 400 yards outside the family's home in Llywn Onn, Wrexham, North Wales.

Rachel had been undergoing intensive physiotherapy to learn to walk again as well as speech therapy in order to communicate.

But after the COVID-19 pandemic stalled the progress, inspirational Freya continued to help her mom during the subsequent lockdowns.

Rachel's mom Karan, 62, said: “It’s an amazing achievement for Rachel and shows how much progress she is making.

Rachel Harry takes her first steps. (Rachel Harry via SWNS)

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“It’s almost ten years ago that doctors told us she would probably never walk or talk again and now she’s walking 400 yards.

“We’re incredibly proud of her and we never give up hope that she will continue improving and making progress.”

The family suffered throughout the pandemic after carers were forced to limit her rehabilitation sessions.

Karan added: “It was really hard.

"We didn't have as many care hours so we have been doing a lot of it at home.

"There was a long time with no therapies, where we were just trying to keep Rachel safe.

"It has been tough. But we've managed to do quite a bit to keep her moving. And Freya has done a lot. She wasn't in school as much during the first lockdown, so she was spurring her mummy on.

"She was encouraging her mummy to move and to walk, and she was able to do a lot more with her."

Freya, who turns 10 in July, said: "My mummy is special.

"She had a heart attack having me and I am teaching her to walk and talk.

"I want my mummy to be the same as all of my friends' mums, so she can take me shopping and swimming."