'I felt sick at home - I've had to relearn how to walk and talk'

A woman who was left unable to speak or walk after suffering a stroke at the age of 33 has "had a bit of a glow up" and is "excited to be back" to her normal life – including being back on the dating scene. Melissa Clayton, now 34, had a stroke in hospital following a seizure at her home in January 2024.

She spent the subsequent three months in hospital being fed through a tube, during which time she underwent surgery to remove a bone from the top of her spine to alleviate pressure on her brain, and had a shunt – a thin, hollow tube – implanted into her brain. Now, however, she is gearing up to return to work as a PR account director full time, after gradually increasing her hours since early February 2025, and is confidently back on the dating scene – an endeavour that is providing her with some unexpected connections.

In January 2024, at 33, Melissa was "thriving" in her high-flying PR job, working with major clients like McDonald's. She resided in a shared house in Hackney Wick, north-east London, and was in the process of moving into her own flat in Old Street, central London.

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One evening after work, Melissa felt "a bit sick and feverish" and decided to retire to bed early. She began feeling faint and suffered a seizure in bed. Her flatmate discovered her and rang for an ambulance.

Melissa's sole recollection from that fateful night is a paramedic assisting her to sit upright. While admitted at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London, Melissa suffered a stroke. Her mum recounted the surgeon's words, stating that Melissa was gravely ill and they were uncertain about her chances of full recovery.

During her hospital stay, she contracted Covid, battled two chest infections, underwent surgery to remove a bone from the top of her spine to alleviate brain pressure caused by blood and swelling, and had a shunt inserted into her brain. Her facial muscles tightened to such an extent that she found it difficult to speak and swallow, necessitating tube-feeding.

She also lost mobility in her right arm and leg, making independent movement and walking a struggle. Speaking in August 2025, Melissa reveals that she has made significant progress on her recovery journey, but has also encountered some unforeseen hurdles.

"Work has actually been way harder than I thought, mainly because you're learning what's different, it takes you longer to process information," Melissa shared. "Also, because my stroke affected my emotions, I can be quite reactive rather than responding to someone.

"Like anyone going back to work, if it's maternity leave or whatever, it does take time to get back into the swing of it," she said, adding that her employer has been very supportive of the adjustments she needs in her work life.

"The thing is, I'm naturally impatient and very determined and also, I'm a perfectionist. I'm a Virgo! I have been quite hard on myself, whereas my coach at work will be like: 'You really need to slow down'. So yes, I'm excited to be back – I won't know until I try it!"

Melissa is making considerable headway in her personal life as well. She lives alone in London – though with her therapy dog, Maya, a Pomeranian cross – but is getting ready for a relocation to Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, awaiting the finalisation of a house purchase.

She has also returned to the dating world, and whilst when she initially started dating again following her stroke she discovered it to be on somewhat shaky ground, she now feels "more confident" in her quest for romance.

Whereas previously Melissa had mentioned the fact she is a stroke survivor on her dating app profiles, she has since chosen to omit that information, as it "isn't just who I am".

"I think also, with my speech getting a bit better, people won't notice as much," she added. "I also feel like probably what I'm looking for is a bit more serious than it was back then, and therefore I just want to get to know someone better before I tell them about what I've gone through."

Through dating, Melissa has also formed some surprising platonic bonds – including a mate of a potential date who has likewise suffered a stroke.

"I matched with one person who instantly said 'I need to put you in touch with my friend'. And he'd had a stroke as well," she said. "We ended up just chatting. We met for a coffee. I think it was about a month ago, a month or two ago. I think it's really highlighted to me how strokes really affect other people."

In late July 2025, Melissa had her feeding tube – which had been fitted when she battled with chewing after the stroke – taken out, which she describes as "one thing that just made me feel really clinical, just a daily reminder that I had it".

She has also shed some unwanted pounds, transformed her hair, and is "feeling much better" within herself. "I feel like I've had a bit of a glow up," she revealed.

Most importantly, the traumatic ordeal has shown Melissa not to take life for granted.

She has been attending the theatre – something she always adored – and sampling new restaurants with mates, which she explains are all things she would take for granted before her stroke.

"I don't really take anything too seriously, because nothing is worse than what I've gone through," she revealed. "But equally, I also don't have any patience for being mucked around in terms of dating. I don't need anyone. I choose to want someone.

"I like being independent. I think I really cherish my independence more than anything now, and the fact that I can do what I want, when I want, and not have to be under any kind of concern or worry."