British Airways air hostess given 48 hours to live after shock brain haemorrhage
Summer Clarke mimed the lyrics to "Don't Look Back in Anger" by Oasis and "Waterfall" by The Stone Roses as she emerged from a coma after suffering a stroke.
For Summer Clarke, life is a melody to be sung. After waking from a coma induced by a stroke, she could sing before she could talk. Initially, she just mimed to "Don't Look Back in Anger" by Oasis and "Waterfall" by The Stone Roses, along with Taylor Swift's popular tunes, but soon she was singing them out loud.
Her mum, Linda, shared a poignant moment: "She sang a very emotional Lilly Allen song - Somewhere Only We Know - which was used in the John Lewis Christmas advert. It was our special song, which we sang together. As she sang it she cried. That was heartbreaking because I knew she knew something was not right but she didn't know what had happened to her."
Summer's life took an unexpected turn one day in May 2023 when, as a flight attendant for British Airways, she was grilling burgers in the garden with pals. She recalls feeling off: "I started to feel a bit dopey. I knew how to cook but was asking if I was doing things right. I felt strange."
That day progressed to an evening at a pub, where severe headaches escalated, resulting in her being violently ill and seeming to experience a seizure, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Summer was just 24 when she was urgently taken to Tameside Hospital after suffering a spontaneous brain haemorrhage. She was unable to breathe independently and was placed on life support upon transfer to Salford Royal Hospital, known for its neurosurgery expertise.
Linda, her mother, recounted: "The doctors did a draining procedure but the pressure on her brain was immense. I was told that she might have 48 hours to live and we should maybe say our goodbyes. She was given a ten percent chance of survival – it was terrifying."
After two weeks in an induced coma, Summer began to show signs of life by moving her little finger. Linda shared: "We were being warned that she might never talk or walk again and be in a vegetative state.
"Eventually she started moving her little finger. Then she opened her eyes. But for a good few weeks she was non responsive. Then she started following people around the room with her eyes and slowly it improved from there. She was in the ICU for about six weeks."
Summer spent time at Salford Royal from May until November 2023, followed by a stint in a rehabilitation unit at Rochdale hospital from November through to the end of February 2024.
Reflecting on her recovery, Summer said: "Before I could even speak to anyone I started to sing. I don't know how. It was like being a baby again, I had to learn everything from scratch."
Remarkably, she could sing her favourite songs perfectly before she was able to speak clearly or even recognise her own mother.
Linda shared her daughter's incredible journey: "Summer suffered with so many cognitive problems but singing just came naturally to her.
"She could sing to music when she came out of the coma. She would start by miming songs and then she could sing anything on her playlist."
Summer, 26, reflected on the uncanny phenomenon saying: "Anything we played I remembered the lyrics to, even if I didn't recognise my own mum, it was all very strange."
Linda recounted the early signs of recovery: "She was even trying to sing when she had a tracheotomy - it is hard to speak with that in. She was miming the words. From day one of her being put in a coma we had been playing Summer's playlist."
Detailing an emotive moment, Linda said: "It was songs from it that Summer began to sing - including my wedding song, Waterfall by the Stone Roses. She had aphasia, and could not get her words out to talk, but she could sing, which is very strange. I was crying when she was singing, it was very emotional."
As for Summer's current state, she revealed: "Now I can walk, I can pretty much do everything, the only thing I struggle with is reading. Also for the first time since this I recently rode a bike - which was a bit hard."
They credit Summer's remarkable progress to a combination of sheer determination and resilience, along with her passion for music and singing.
A survey conducted by the Stroke Association charity, involving 1,000 stroke survivors to commemorate Stroke Awareness Month in May, revealed that over a third of survivors in the North West (37%) lost their ability to speak following their stroke. Interestingly, over a third (35%) reported an enhanced ability to sing compared to speaking in the days, weeks and months post-stroke.
In fact, a quarter of respondents (26%) could hum or sing before they regained their speech.
In the UK, strokes affect 100,000 individuals annually, with a third of these survivors suffering from aphasia - a language and communication disability that hampers abilities to speak, read, write or comprehend language.
Studies have indicated that singing post-stroke can improve communication and spoken language for those afflicted with aphasia. The Stroke Association's survey discovered that more than half of stroke survivors (54%) stated that activities such as singing, listening to music or playing an instrument had a positive influence on their recovery from stroke.
Furthermore, two out of five respondents claimed that music had a significant impact on their recuperation.
From a practical standpoint, nearly two-thirds of stroke survivors asserted that music aided in enhancing their communication skills after their stroke. Over half of them also reported improvements in memory and hearing due to music.
From an emotional standpoint, nearly half (45%) of stroke survivors reported that singing along to music post-stroke helped them unwind, and over a third (34%) found hope in singing as they could vocalise better than they could speak. Additionally, two out of five (43%) felt it brought positivity back into their lives.
The organisation also conducted a survey with 2,000 individuals from the general public, revealing that many in the UK are not aware of the significant communication challenges faced by stroke survivors, with over a quarter (28%) oblivious to the fact that such difficulties are a common aftermath of a stroke. Those with aphasia often experience a decline in wellbeing, battling with decreased confidence and social withdrawal.
Linda said: "Even when Summer was in the coma I was playing her favourite music, I really think it helped in her recovery and her Dad, Keith, Fiancée, Lewis and Sister, Courtney were all by her side too! The therapist said they were amazed by her progress and resilience which was all down to Summer's attitude."
Summer reflected: "While I still struggle with certain things like reading, I look back and think how have I done this? My walking now is near perfect and back to what it was and my memory is sometimes good and bad but I don't let my stroke stop me doing things."
"My motto during my recovery has been, 'If I can't do it today, I'll do it tomorrow' and that's what I'll keep living by. "
During her recuperation, Summer found immense comfort in the song "Proud Mary" – initially brought to life by the American rock ensemble Creedence Clearwater Revival back in 1969.
It was, however, Tina Turner's rendition of the song that greatly aided her recovery journey.
This month marks a crucial period as the Stroke Association urges individuals to lift their voices in solidarity, aiding stroke survivors who require essential support after the life-changing ordeal of a stroke.
Spearheading the cause, they've unveiled Sing4Stroke, an innovative drive for fundraising. The initiative empowers people to sing in any setting they prefer – be it from the comfort of their homes, during a live stream, within office precincts, school premises, or while hosting a bespoke event – all with the aim of gathering indispensable funds to aid stroke survivors and their families.
Professor Mark Tarrant, spearhead researcher from the University of Exeter, elaborated on the study findings: "Singing-based rehabilitation may have positive effects on both social confidence and wellbeing, providing social and emotional support for people with aphasia and their loved ones."
Furthermore, Juliet Bouverie OBE, the CEO of the Stroke Association, commented: "There are now over 1.4 million stroke survivors in the UK, and this number is growing. The impact of a stroke can be completely life-altering. We believe everyone deserves to live the best life they can after a stroke but to do this, we need your support.
"Singing can be a powerful tool in stroke recovery for those who experience communication difficulties. Because music and singing are processed in a different part of the brain to spoken language, some people with communication problems find that they can sing easily, even though speaking is difficult.
"Now we need singers to show their support to stroke survivors and their families. If you're part of a choir or singing group, you could dedicate a song to stroke survivors and donate some of the proceeds. Children at school could vote for a song to prepare and come together to sing at a special assembly for Stroke Awareness Month. You could even hold a 'sponsored sing' and sing 31 songs in a row – one for every day in May to highlight Stroke Awareness Month. By taking part in Sing4Stroke, you'll help make a lasting difference to stroke survivors and their families."
Every day in May, it's estimated by the charity that 240 individuals in the UK will confront the devastating effects of a stroke. This condition can leave survivors unable to move, see, speak, or even swallow.
However, with resilience, determination and the right support, recovery is achievable.
The Stroke Association stands as the sole charity in the UK offering lifelong assistance to all stroke survivors and their families. The organisation provides bespoke support to tens of thousands of stroke survivors annually, funds crucial stroke research, and advocates for the best care and support for everyone impacted by stroke.
Linda praised her daughter's resilience, stating: "She is amazing, she goes to the gym twice a week. The gym and the music have played a huge part in her recovery. The experts actually don't know what caused the bleed on her brain.
"The doctors did say 'you will get your daughter back in five years. It has not even been two yet, and she has been amazing."
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