It was just another ordinary day for Blake Pennell, a young man from Norfolk. He was chomping down on a chicken sandwich, minding his own business, when suddenly, everything changed. He fell into a coma, leaving doctors worried sick that he was brain dead. Turns out, he wasn’t quite out for the count just yet. After eight long months in the hospital, Blake is slowly starting to regain movement in his head. That’s right, folks, he’s on the road to recovery!
Life before this unexpected turn of events was a breeze for Blake. He was a healthy, active 30-year-old, working as a 3D artist and soaking up the great outdoors whenever he could. But on that fateful day in June 2024, his world came crashing down. His wife, Lauren, found him collapsed in the bathroom, and the nightmare began. Doctors diagnosed him with a rare basilar artery stroke, likely triggered by E. coli. And if that wasn’t bad enough, he also had cerebral tonsil herniation, which caused dangerous swelling in his brain. Yikes!
Now, here’s where things get really interesting. Blake’s stroke was linked to an E. coli outbreak that hit multiple supermarkets across the UK. It was chaos, with over 200 people falling ill, including our man Blake. The culprit? A humble £3 chicken sandwich. Who would’ve thought, right? But despite the odds stacked against him, Blake is making progress. He may not be able to sit or stand yet, but he’s moving his right arm and leg and even communicating through a tablet. With some luck and a whole lot of hard work, Blake just might make a full recovery. Keep on fighting, buddy!
