A 10-year-old girl who was unable to walk, talk or even swallow after a stroke has made an incredible recovery and now wants to give something back to the charity that helped her.

Issy Dolby, from Walton, had a severe ischemic stroke in June 2018 caused by a blockage cutting off the blood supply to her brain.

She had been about to start her weekly dance class at Burhill Primary School in Hersham when the stroke occurred. She was taken to St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey where she was placed in a coma.

Issy regained consciousness two days later but her right side had been paralysed and she couldn't even sit without support. The stroke took away her speech and ability to walk, and before that Issy had no known health problems.

She has since relearned those lost skills thanks to The Children's Trust in Tadworth, which specialises in rehabilitation from brain injuries.

Issy Dolby pictured in hospital

Eight weeks after her stroke, Issy began an intensive programme of rehabilitation with speech and language therapy sitting alongside occupational therapy, music therapy and aquatic therapy.

She regained her movement in her right side with exercises like reaching out to pop bubbles, and walking forwards and backwards on a treadmill.

Now, two years later, after making a miraculous recovery, Issy wants to show her gratitude to the charity by taking on a virtual step challenge called Step Forward.

She will climb 5,113 stairs which is made up of 4,380 to represent the age she was in days when she had her stroke and 733 stairs to represent the number of days it has been since her stroke.


Candice Dolby, Issy's mum, said: "There are no words to describe just how grateful we are that Issy came to The Children's Trust. It provided us all with a safe environment to come to terms with what had happened and felt like home very quickly.

"Issy arrived weak and unsure of her future, but walked out confident, happy, independent and excited to get on with her life. The Children's Trust has given us our Issy back. Now we want to give back to them."

Issy has since gone back to her dance class, completed a 2k park run and began rock climbing lessons.

The Children's Trust needs to raise £7 million a year to continue treating and supporting children with brain injuries.

You can donate to Issy's fundraiser by visiting https://stepforward2020.everydayhero.com/uk/issy-s-fundraising-page