Daughter tells of mother's ordeal with 'Locked-in Syndrome'

Jennifer McGinlay was left trapped in her own body with the heart-breaking condition after collapsing outside a shopping centre in the East End. 

Now, nine months later, the 63-year-old has defied all odds to show signs of recovery, with her family by her side every step of the way. 

“I cannot describe how proud I am,” said daughter Amanda Percy. “She is the strongest person I know, and she doesn’t even know how well she’s doing. 

“We have been there since the moment it happened, and we’ll be there until the end.” 

A carer at a Glasgow nursing home, Mrs McGinlay was the epitome of health, and regularly walked across the city, cycled with her niece and nephew and helped at the local after-school care. 

She began to experience frequent headaches and nausea, and doctors put her symptoms down to an incorrect glasses prescription. 

But on one frightful November day, the mother of-three suffered two life-altering strokes, leaving her feeling as though she was being buried alive.

Locked-in Syndrome leaves patients aware of their surroundings but unable to move or communicate verbally due to complete paralysis of nearly all voluntary muscles in the body. 

“This kind of stroke doesn’t discriminate – it could happen to anybody,” said Ms Percy. “You could be walking around one minute like my mum had been, and the next you could be unable to move, scared you’ll never walk again.” 

Mrs McGinlay spent her first night in Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Govan, coming in and out of consciousness, her body twitching, jerking and having spasms outwith her control – and the family began to fear the worst. 

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Doctors first estimated a 20% chance of survival but dropped the heart-breaking possibility down to 10% as the days went by. 

But something in her mother’s eyes told 42-year-old Ms Percy the fight was far from over. 

“Call it intuition, vibes or mother-daughter bonding, we knew she was still in there,” said Ms Percy. “I just said to her, ‘Ma, if you fight from the inside, we will fight from the outside’.” 

And her mother did that. Since March, she has regained control of slight head and leg movements – and can even say a few words. 

“It’s a miracle,” said Ms Percy. “But it is bittersweet. We can see how frustrated she is with her condition, and we just have to try our best to help her.

“We had been advised her case was so severe we are incredibly lucky to have what we have at the moment.”

Medical staff say Mrs McGinlay has plateaued and her condition will most likely never improve, but it has not deterred the determined family. 

Using alphabet cards, hand massages and breathing exercises, the family have banded together to help her fight against her own body. 

But the grandmother cannot help but cry when she sees her young niece and nephew, Sienna and Nico, stand helpless at her bedside. 

“They were as close as you could get,” said Ms Percy. “It’s killing her to know she can’t watch them after school or walk to the shops with them arm in arm. She just cries her eyes out.” 

And in the 10 months she has been away from home, Mrs McGinlay’s husband John has slept on the family’s couch, as he can’t bear to lie in their shared bed without his beloved wife after 48 years together.

But their circumstances could soon be set to change, with the family desperately trying to raise funds to build a much-needed extension on to their home for the grandmother. 

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When she eventually returns to her home in Broomhouse, Mrs McGinlay will need care 24 hours a day, seven days a week and alterations to the property to make daily life easier, including a ramp, double front door and a wet room. 

“It will mean she can travel easily in and out the home that she has so many memories,” said her daughter. “We need a space where we can continue giving her the care she needs.” 

The family believes getting Mrs McGinlay back into a place she is familiar with – and one that holds so many cherished memories – will be the push she needs to further the progress of her recovery. 

Since launching on Wednesday, the GoFundMe page has reached more than £3,000 of its £24,000 target – an achievement that has left the family lost for words. 

Ms Percy added: “We just want to give her a bit of a normal home life back. 

“She’s worked so hard to keep her house going over the years and we want her to still be able to live and enjoy it. 

“My mum is the most selfless person I know and to see people giving back with the same love she has spent her life trying to give out is just beautiful. 

“I want to say thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts for your generosity, regardless of the amount you give, every single penny helps.” 

You can donate at GoFundMe by clicking HERE.