Ashlyn Hehir fights to walk again after shock neurological diagnosis

Theatre student Ashlyn Hehir was living her dream when, in only a matter of weeks, a rare neurological condition took away her ability to walk.

Ashlyn was studying musical theatre full-time when she suddenly started experiencing muscle weakness and mobility issues. Picture from Heathers the Musical. (Cope Creative and De Jager Productions)

When young theatre student Ashlyn Hehir woke up with facial weakness in August, she initially didn’t think much of it.

However, less than two months later, the 20-year-old has been put through a medical battle that took away her ability to walk, let alone dance.

Ms Hehir, originally from the Sunshine Coast, moved to Brisbane earlier this year to pursue her theatre dreams.

“I was studying full-time at the Queensland College of Dance,” Ms Hehir said.
“I was studying a Diploma of Musical Theatre, and it was all going really well until August came.
“Then I woke up one day with facial drooping on my right side, and I didn’t really think too much of it.”

Doctors initially thought it was a stroke, and she stayed in hospital for a week.

Ashlyn has been in and out of hospital since August, but she is hoping to walk by Christmas.

 
She gradually started losing feeling in the left side of her body and had to rely on a cane to walk.
A month later, she experienced a functional seizure and had to return to hospital.

It was then she was diagnosed with functional neurological disorder (FND), a moment she described as “a relief”.

FND is a functional disorder which affects the communication between a person’s brain and body.

Mixed with her relief at the diagnosis was “massive shock”, as the condition is “quite new to everyone”, but there is a lot of research being done on it.

Despite her condition, she has been able to return to college to complete her one-year diploma.

Ashlyn said she is 'more hopeful and optimistic now' because she is confident she can find a way to achieve her dreams.

 
She recently performed in the musical Chicago.
She said she loves creative arts, and her faculty has been a great support.
“I’m still very passionate about studying, and the college has been so understanding of my condition,” she said.
“They have been so supportive and still included me in the musical we just did.
“I love studying it, and I want to do it as much as I can, regardless of my condition.”

Ashlyn is currently in recovery and hopes to walk by Christmas.

 
She said FND has mostly impacted her mobility and strength, but through physio and occupational therapy, she hopes to return to dancing one day.
A GoFundMe has been launched to support her recovery.