Woman suffers 'imitation stroke' every two weeks due to rare condition
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A young woman has spoken out about her battle with a rare condition that causes 'imitation strokes' and fears it could leave her wheelchair-bound for life. Leona Hargreaves, 26, was going about her day at work in October 2024 when she suddenly experienced a weakened left side, lost the ability to speak, and suffered vision loss in her left eye.
Her husband Sam, also 26 and an aircraft technician, took her to Lincoln County Hospital where she was diagnosed with hemiplegic migraines following blood tests and a CT scan. This condition, which affects just one in 10,000 people, mimics stroke symptoms such as slurred speech, muscle weakness, and confusion, and currently has no cure.
Leona, who is already dependent on a mobility aid during and after attacks, expressed her fear of experiencing a migraine so severe that she might never walk again. The dental nurse from Lincoln shared: "Hemiplegic migraines have had such a big impact on my life - I’m so scared they’ll damage me permanently.".
She added: "Every attack I have, I wonder if it’ll be the one to leave me permanently unable to walk.". The condition has significantly affected her independence, limiting her ability to work full-time and socialise with friends. Leona highlighted the common misconception about migraines. She says: "People think migraines of any kind last a day, and then when the headache’s gone, it’s gone." She explained the prolonged ordeal of feeling the build-up for days, enduring the migraine itself, and then dealing with the aftermath, which can last up to a week.
