Hailey Terrell almost dies from near fatal reaction to dermal injection

THIS woman suffered eight strokes and a cardiac arrest after a dermal injection in her chin. She’s since had to relearn how to walk, talk and write.

Hailey Terrell has completed a master’s degree since recovering from her illness.

A WOMAN was left fighting for her life after suffering a near fatal reaction to a filler injection.

Hailey Terrell, 37, suffered eight strokes and cardiac arrest after an injection in her chin.

Doctors say Hailey even died when her heart stopped beating for a terrifying 30 seconds.

But after relearning to walk, talk and write — spending a total of five weeks in hospital — the yoga instructor, who was living in London at the time, has made a full recovery.

Hailey said: “I had no idea a filler injection could kill me.

“When I went to have an injection there is a leaflet with all the side effects listed.

“But it is just like the paper in a paracetamol box — I never thought it would actually happen to me.”

After a total of eight strokes — one of the rare but possible side effects of filler injections — Hailey suffered a cardiac arrest and was put in a medically induced coma.

She was studying for a Master’s in Real Estate at Cass Business School in London when she found a deal online for a dermal filler. After thoroughly researching the practice, she set the date for the injection in her chin.

“I’d had injections before with no issues and nothing about this practitioner seemed out of the ordinary,” she said.

“She was qualified and a registered nurse so I thought that aspect was all I had to worry about.”

Hailey technically ‘died’ when her heart stopped beating for a terrifying 30 seconds.

But the day after the procedure, Hailey’s first symptoms appeared.

“I took a bite of pitta and struggled to swallow it,” she recalled.

“I tried to tell my friend I couldn’t swallow my food properly but the words weren’t coming out.

“Suddenly I had an awful lisp and it was still there the next day. A friend told me I might have had a stroke.

“I thought only old people or overweight people had strokes but I agreed I should get checked out.”

Hailey visited London University College Hospital but was sent home two days later with a prescription to treat a food allergy.

“The next day I knew I couldn’t eat but I made myself a really good dish anyway.

“On my first bite I just kept chewing and chewing and it got stuck. I started choking and thought I was going to die.

“I made myself sick before going straight back to A&E, but again no one realised I was having a stroke.

“By this point I couldn’t even swallow my own spit and I was drooling profusely.

“They gave me a wand to stick in my mouth which sucked out all the saliva.

“I had to type messages into my phone to speak to the doctors. I had been back in hospital for three days and I was really scared. I pleaded for a nurse to stay and hold my hand through the night because I didn’t want to die behind the curtain.

“That is the last thing I can remember.”

Hailey Terrell spent a total of five weeks in hospital.

The next day — one week after her first hospital admission — Hailey went into cardiac arrest and suffered a final round of strokes.

Her heart stopped for 30 seconds before doctors resuscitated her.

Hailey was placed in a medically induced coma unable to breathe on her own. Transferred to the intensive care unit at the National Hospital for Neurology, she fought for her life.

Hailey’s parents flew straight over from America to be by her bedside.

Seven days later, Hailey pulled through to start her long road to recovery.

She added: “When I woke up the left side of my body didn’t work at all.

“It took me a while to learn to walk again and I had to relearn to write too because I am left-handed. For months I would be out eating and my fork would just drop out my hand.”

But Hailey has gone from strength to strength and completed her degree despite an acquired learning disability.

Exactly two years on, Hailey is now living in Colorado, and has mostly recovered.

“You would never know just by looking at me what happened,” she said.

Hailey Terrell has completed a master’s degree since recovering from her illness.

“I have a small scar on my neck and have problems focusing but I am now in the best place I have been.”

Hailey is using her experience to put others off cosmetic injections.

“I give people face lift massage as an alternative to injections and you can really see the difference.

“I am developing a business to teach people self massage techniques for one’s face, among other natural remedies, such as nutrition, meditation and face yoga.

“Having a stroke and nearly dying for beauty is something I’m not willing to ever risk again.

“What happened to me just shows that the dangers are still there even if you go to a registered practitioner.

“I really hope my story inspires others to look for beauty in the only place it can truly be found: inside.”