Schoolboy suffered brain bleed at 12 that left him unable to talk or BLINK – but now he’s a model
Rafi Solaiman was a fit, athletic boy when he suddenly collapsed without warning
A MUM has revealed how she was warned to expect the worst after her son suffered a massive brain haemorrhage when he was just 12.
Rafi Solaiman was a fit, athletic boy when he suddenly collapsed without warning at home.
At first, doctors thought he would die and, although he survived, he was struck by “locked-in syndrome” - where his whole body was paralysed.
As he recovered, Rafi struggled with the effects of his brain injury and would often accuse his mum Jackie of being an “imposter”.
Jackie, 52, from Worksop, Nottinghamshire, said: “It was really upsetting. I felt like I didn’t know my own son.”
Now, against all odds, Rafi has been signed by a model agency and later this year will represent England in .
RaceRunning is an adapted sport developed for those who can't functionally run and involves using a three wheeled frame where the athlete is supported by a saddle and body plate.
The athlete then propels against the frame using their feet, and steers using the mobility within their hands or arms.
Rafi is currently ranked third in the world.
Jackie added: “Rafi collapsed on Remembrance Sunday and for us, it certainly was a day we would never forget.
“Every year, on Remembrance Sunday, we celebrate with a family party because we know we are so lucky he is still alive.”
And last year, on the fifth anniversary of his illness, Rafi, now 18, took to the catwalk at a fashion show – watched by the medics who oversaw his recovery.
Rafi is the youngest of Jackie’s four children and had always been a funny, carefree boy, who was athletic, sporty and healthy.
Jackie said: “It was Remembrance Sunday 2012 and Rafi came into the garden where I was pegging out washing, to say he felt sick.
“But by the time I got him on to the couch he was losing consciousness. It was so fast - I was bewildered.”
When the paramedics arrived, Rafi was struggling to breathe.
He was rushed to hospital under police escort and doctors explained he had suffered a massive haemorrhage.
Jackie added: “They explained that Rafi had a tangle of blood vessels in his brain, since birth, and that it could have popped at any time.”
Rafi remained in a coma and also suffered a second bleed. When doctors tried to wake him, they found he was suffering from “locked-in syndrome” and he was unable to communicate with his family at all.
Jackie says: “It was torture, knowing he was trapped inside his own body and he wanted to talk to us, but couldn’t. He couldn’t even blink.
“We celebrated his 13th birthday in hospital with balloons and cake.
“Rafi was in a sort of waking coma; he didn’t react in any way.
“We tried to pretend it was a happy day, but it was desperately sad.”
Rafi showed very small signs of improvement but it was six months before he was well enough to leave hospital ready for a further six months in rehab.
Jackie says: “We were thrilled when he began blinking; small steps meant so much to us.”
But, in rehab, as Rafi struggled with the effects of his brain injury, he became angry and confused.
Jackie explained: “His personality changed completely.
“He would shout that I was an ‘imposter’ and not his mum. He swore at the staff and hit them, which was just not like him.
“It was really upsetting. The old Rafi had gone.
“I had given up work to be with him, my daughter left university, and our whole family was in pieces.”
Doctors eventually decided to allow Rafi to go home – and it was only then that his recovery really began.
Jackie said: “As soon as he got home, he was at peace.
“He started to show signs of his old self. He allowed the therapists to treat him at home and he made wonderful progress.”
Rafi still has some problems with balance, co-ordination and his memory.
Though he has been unable to return to his favourite sport of sprinting, he has instead taken up ‘race running’ and later this year he will represent his country at the CPISRA World Championships in Barcelona.
He is currently ranked third in the world at 100m and is in with a good chance of a medal.
He is also studying at college and has signed up with Zebedee Management, an inclusive model agency.
Jackie added: “Rafi has already met a new girlfriend through his modelling work; he’s a beautiful looking boy. This is not of course the life we had planned for him – but that’s not to say he isn’t happy and fulfilled with a great future ahead of him.
“I feel blessed for every day he is alive because I know how lucky we are.”
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