A woman became paralyzed from the neck down following weight loss surgery in Turkey.
At 28 stone and unable to walk, Danielle Peebles was determined to improve her fitness for the arrival of her grandson.
In 2023, the 42-year-old traveled to Turkey, spending £2,995 on a gastric sleeve surgery after realizing she couldn't wait for the NHS to schedule her operation.
However, complications arose shortly after she returned to the UK.
The mother of five's health deteriorated, leading to a collapse last year, and she was subsequently diagnosed with nutritional neuropathy, a rare and serious vitamin deficiency.
This situation resulted in a five-month hospitalization at Salford Royal Hospital in Greater Manchester, where she defied doctors' fears of permanent paralysis and learned to walk again.
Reflecting on this challenging period, she described it as "the worst time in [her] life," stating, "I was paralyzed from the neck down, except for the excruciating pain in my feet that intensified with the slightest touch."
Danielle eventually discovered the severity of her nerve damage and the unsettling possibility that she might never walk again.
"The surgical aspect of my procedure went smoothly; it was my body's reaction that was the issue," she explained.
"You don’t often hear that nutritional neuropathy can result from not eating," she emphasized.
"These side effects are rarely mentioned because they are uncommon."
The Growing Trend of Turkish Weight Loss Clinics
Each year, approximately 50,000 individuals from the UK travel to Turkey for weight loss surgery, a dramatic rise from about 10,000 five years ago, as reported by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS).
The primary attraction is the cost, with procedures being up to 70% less expensive than in the UK.
For instance, gastric sleeve surgeries typically range from £3,000 to £5,000, while in the UK, they can cost between £8,000 and £12,000.
However, there have been numerous accounts of complications and concerns regarding the standard of care.
The Private Healthcare Information Network reported that around 1,000 patients encountered problems after receiving treatment abroad, leading many to seek legal counsel.
During Danielle's lengthy recovery in the hospital, her family, including her husband Stephen, experienced significant emotional turmoil.
"We were uncertain about what the future held," she recalled.
After five months, Danielle started to feel sensation returning to her limbs.
She expressed gratitude towards the hospital staff, highlighting the crucial role that physiotherapists, support workers, and dieticians played in helping her regain the ability to walk.
She praised neurologist Dr. Dan Whittam for his exceptional dedication in assisting her.
Recently, she had the opportunity to reconnect with the medical team that played a crucial role in her transformative care.
“Thank you to ‘Dr. Dan’ for guiding me through everything and helping me recover, along with all the nurses on the unit and ward L1,” she expressed.
Looking back on her journey, Dr. Whittam remarked, “Seeing her walk without even a crutch truly surpassed my expectations, and her resolve has been nothing short of inspiring.”
Commenting on her recovery, Danielle’s husband Stephen shared, “Danielle has made incredible progress, and I couldn’t be prouder of her.
While she is still in the early phases of her recovery, she is committed to living as normal a life as she can.”