No one expects to have a stroke at the age of 45 and BBC Formula One presenter Jennie Gow was absent from TV and social media at the end of 2022, before revealing she had a stroke which left her struggling to write and talk. Now in some emotional scenes, Jennie has given a health update while appearing on BBC's The One Show on Monday, May 22.
Jennie said that her symptoms started with her having a heavy and persistent cough, which was not Covid, and ultimately her husband, Jamie Coley, found her collapsed in their home. The F1 presenter became emotional while talking to her husband on the show.
Talking to Jamie, Jennie asked him if he was scared when he found her and Jamie replied: "It was the worst moment of my life" causing Jennie to begin to cry. Jennie and Jamie have a daughter Isabel who, despite only being six years old, helped her dad while they waited for an ambulance for Jennie.
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Jennie's stroke was caused by her cough and a viral infection which meant that when Jennie coughed she tore a blood vessel and had a carotid artery in her neck. This is a very rare way for a stroke to be caused.
Jennie had to slowly learn to speak and write again, which took months of therapy. Talking about the first time she spoke after the stroke, she said: "It was scratchy and horrible but it was something".
Currently, Jennie still feels numb down her right side, her sense of taste is gone, she gets very tired and is still working on her speech. You can keep up to date with the latest TV and showbiz news by signing up to the newsletter here.
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