Girl beats stroke at just 12 to become a bridesmaid

But when she was asked to be a bridesmaid for her cousin's wedding Sasha, from York, was determined to accompany her down the aisle on her own two feet. Now three years after she first collapsed and nearly died while out shopping with her mother she was yesterday honoured with a Life After Stroke Award at a glitzy ceremony at Claridge's in London. Her stroke was linked to a tumour that was diagnosed when she was only nine and was due to be removed when her stroke struck.

With only five days to go until the operation her mother Jas took Sasha out shopping to get a few last-minute items for her stay in hospital. They were in Asda at Monks Cross in York when she complained of a headache and went pale.

Because her daughter suffered from migraines Mr Dhesi at first just thought it was another attack. The family, from Manor Garth, Wigginton, had been told by an expert that the chances of Sasha suffering a stroke because of her condition was as remote as winning the National Lottery.

"For the first 30 seconds I thought it might be migraine but in a minute of so she started sounding drunk and her face had dropped and she felt numb on her left side," said Mrs Dhesi, 39. She decided to drive her to hospital herself rather than wait for an ambulance.

Her daughter lost consciousness in the car. When she arrived at the A & E Department in York medics told her: "We don't think she's going to make it." Mrs Dhesi recalled: "She was still in the car when I went in screaming: 'My daughter has had a haemorrhage'.

Fortunately, they were fantastic." The girl was in intensive care in a coma for four weeks. "When she came out of the coma we knew she was going to be ok but not what sort of recovery she would make.

"We didn't know and that was the hardest thing. I remember going into intensive care and there was a guy next to us with a baby who had been there for 30 days. We ended up staying there the longest – seven months and one week." When she came out of the coma, she was given a feeding tube, so she did not talk for three months. She communicated by sign language, which she had picked up a couple of years earlier while scuba diving. The initial prognosis was that Sasha would not even be able to sit up again without help. However, she was undeterred and when asked to be bridesmaid for her cousin's wedding she was determined to not be in her wheelchair.

Through hard work, resilience and some intense physiotherapy sessions Sasha did manage to walk down the aisle with all of the other bridesmaids in July 2009, and had her walking stick decorated to match the bridesmaids' outfits. She is now back at Huntington School in York full time, preparing for her GCSEs and is able to walk with the aid of a stick on flat surfaces.

At school she has also become a mentor to younger pupils, helping them out with home-work. She also regularly attends a youth club that's run by schools and the council for children with disabilities.

She enjoys swimming with her friends and younger sister, Manisha, 12, and says: "My next target is to catch the bus into town on my own.

"My mum has been great with all the help and support she has given me since my stroke, but I'd really love to go into town with my friends without needing my mum. I love going swimming so hopefully soon I will be able to go to the water park with my mates."

Mrs Dhesi said she and her husband Resh, 45, were so proud of their daughter's progress and how she has remained so positive and determined.

"Sasha is always happy and never complains about the things that her peer group are doing but she is unable to. Everyone she meets is left smiling," she added.Chief Executive of The Stroke Association Jon Barrick added: "All of the award winners have shown tremendous courage in rebuilding their lives after a stroke or in helping others to do the same."

Families can be damaged

About a million people in Britain are living with the effects of stroke.

The Life After Stroke Awards not only highlight how a stroke can affect anyone at any age, but also the impact the condition has on families, carers and health care professionals.

The Stroke Association is the only UK charity solely concerned with combating stroke in people of all ages.

The charity funds research into prevention, treatment, better methods of rehabil-itation and helps stroke patients and their families.

A stroke is a brain attack which causes brain damage.

The condition can be diagnosed by using FAST – Facial weakness, Arm weakness plus Speech problems.

Suffering a stroke is a medical emergency, so if any of these symptoms are present sufferers should call 999 for an ambulance.

The Stroke Helpline provides information on strokes to the public and is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday on 0845 3033 100 or visit www.stroke.org.uk