Family tell how Freya inspired mum Rachel Harry during lockdown

Ten year's ago, Rachel's family was told it was unlikely she would be able to walk or do simple tasks like sit up or feed herself when she suffered a hypoxic brain injury during the birth of her daughter Freya.

But, with the support of her family, fundraisers, and in particular her nine-year-old Freya, Rachel has been living life to the fullest.

The family have now set a challenge for Rachel to walk 400 yards unaided to celebrate her 40th birthday at the end of the year.

Rachel Harry attending an essential hospital appointment and with daughter Freya at Chester Zoo.

Mum Karan explained: "With Covid, Rachel hasn't has as much formal rehab as she had before. So we have been doing a lot of it at home. When her NHS physiotherapist came out to see her, we were able to take her outside as she had been doing quite a bit of free walking in the house. It was the first time we were able to take her out at home.

"We've got to thinking that as she's forty in December we'd like Rachel to mark it in some way. It will show her progress and also it will be ten years in July since she had Freya. So after seeing how well she walked, she was brilliant, we'd help her to walk 400 yards for her fortieth."

Sisters Emma and Rachel enjoying the first trip out after lockdown with mum Karan at Pant yr Ochain.

Rachel, now 39, of Llwyn Onn in Wrexham, suffered a hypoxic brain injury during the birth of her daughter Freya in July 2012 after an undetected blood clot caused her to have a heart attack.

For the last ten years she has been undergoing intensive physiotherapy to learn to walk again as well as speech therapy in order to communicate.

Karan says that, despite making slow but encouraging progress, things threatened to stall during the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.

Rachel and Freya reading during lockdown.

However, although her regular therapies were reduced, Rachel's relationship with her growing daughter Freya blossomed during lockdown.

Freya encourages her mum to do her exercises, and has enjoyed reading and baking with her during the pandemic.

Rachel and Freya during lockdown.

Karan added: "It's been really hard for us during the pandemic. We didn't have as many care hours. It's like everything else, there has been limited contact and care. There was a long time with no therapies, where we were just at home trying to keep Rachel safe. It has been tough. But we've managed to do quite a bit to keep her moving and walking.

"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. They did a lot in the kitchen, more than she's ever done. I think it helped Rachel.

"The positive side of lockdown was her special time with Freya. I think it's helped her cognitive development and also we've seen her general interest in life come on leaps and bounds.

"We've seen improvements in her mobility, the cognitive side, and her communication with Freya has gone to another level."

Rachel on the mechanical horse at clwyd special riding centre.

Karan added: "And its let Rachel be more of a mum as Freya has been here more. If she sees Freya doing something she shouldn't, she'll shout at her.

"It's about getting the balance with Freya. To let her play normally with her friends but also to spend time with her mum. It's not fair for Freya to just be Rachel's therapy, she has to have her own life, so it's been getting that balance."

Although Rachel's birthday will be a landmark in many ways, the family won't be throwing a party yet.

She added: "We're still cautious. Covid is still around and its scary for anyone with underlying health conditions. So we won't be having a party this year. Without covid we would be getting everyone together to celebrate her progress, but we just don't feel we can do that."

One of Rachel's favourite therapies is using the mechanical horse at the Clwyd Riding Centre for the Disabled in Llanfynydd, which itself has faced hardship during lockdown.

That is why Rachel's walking challenge will raise funds for the school.

The family home to have a fundraising page set up for the challenge soon.

Rachel boxing at Therapy Matters.

Karen said: "She loves it at the riding centre, she has just been able to start going back. It's therapeutic, it strengthens her hips. She hasn't had that for eighteen months.

"Rachel has one session a week and she's so different after it.

"Like lots of charitable organisations they have been struggling to function, they provide such a great serivce for the disabled community. It's amazing when you see the disabled kids and adults with the horses."

Rachel's miraculous story in her family's own words:

The 23rd of July 2012 should have been a happy celebration to welcome the newest addition to our family, not the worst nightmare any family should have to experience.

As Rachel gave birth to her beautiful daughter, an undetected blood clot caused a massive heart attack and we suddenly lost our gorgeous girl.

For 20 minutes the crash team fought hard to bring her back and thankfully they won the battle, Rachel's heart was restarted and again back with us. However, being without oxygen and blood (the team juggled breaking up the clot with stemming the blood flow from the cesarean cut) Rachel suffered a hypoxic brain injury and was given just two hours to live.

Specialists explained that no-one had survived such a massive trauma - massive blood clot, fatal heart attack, hypoxic brain injury in addition to major surgery.

Rachel Harry with newborn Freya.

Well, Rachel stayed with us past the two hour deadline, past the critical 24 hour period and throughout the emergency surgery to rectify the complications of Cesarean operation.

Rachel remained in a medically induced coma for 10 days, her future uncertain - we were told that even if she did ‘wake-up’ she would be left with a serious brain injury and would need 24/7 care.

Rachel amazingly kept going and moved into the wakeful stage, no machines and needing less monitoring.

Rachel had her beautiful baby girl, Freya, with her every day for as long as the medics would allow and she continued to defy each updated prognosis.

Rachel with sister Emma, Freya and nephew Harry search for gems.

Placed on a general medical ward for three months, unable to move, eat, drink or function her family and friends maintained a constant flow of encouragement and support. Rachel then spent 8 months at Clatterbridge Brain Injury Rehabilitation unit in Liverpool and made slow but positive progress towards coming home to be with her baby girl, family and special friends.

Against all odds and in time for Freya's 1st Birthday, Rachel came home on the 8th June 2013. She was unable to sit up, stand, walk or communicate, but she was at home with Freya and everyone who loved her, and her willpower to be a mum remains relentless.