slennon@thekmgroup.co.uk

The parents of a brave child who suffered two strokes at the age of nine has set up a mutual support group.

Tim and Tarnia Redfearn, of Ashford, have launched a group for families similarly affected by rare childhood strokes.

Mr Redfearn, 41, explained: “The group is for two reasons, firstly to raise awareness of this condition among children, because not even everyone in the medical profession is aware of the extent of it.

“Secondly it provides social gatherings for affected families through which they could provide each other mutual support.”

EKS Child Stroke is a sub-group of the existing East Kent Strokes support group, which has existed for 10 years.

Up to 400 children a year in the UK suffer from strokes although most people believe it only affects the elderly and middle aged.

The new group covers all of Kent from Maidstone westwards.

The first family, pictured below, to join has been that of 20-month-old Louis Wright, of Maidstone, who suffered a stroke in his first weeks of life. More affected families are urged to come forward.

Jessica Redfearn, now 13 and pictured above, suffered her first stroke on March 1, 2008 when she was playing on a friend’s trampoline.

She spent 10 days in a London children’s hospital and had her second stroke on March 13, two days after returning home.

On both occasions her condition began with headaches and she suffered restricted movement on her right side, including the inability to properly use her right arm.

The damage also struck the left side of her brain affecting her mathematics skills and some of her decision-making ability.

Physiotherapy helped improve her condition in the year after she was taken ill but it is thought the effects overall will stay with her for life.

Mr Redfearn said: “Unfortunately, unlike with older people, a child like Jessica doesn’t get fully better. In fact lately she has got slightly worse.

“For children there is the complication of having this condition while they are growing up.”

Despite her condition Jessica has shown immense courage.

In her weeks in hospital when she first fell ill she wrote letters to exercise her write arm and sent letters to famous people and getting replies from those including the Queen and children’s author Jacqueline Wilson.

In 2009 she was named Bravest Child in a national award by WellChild , the charity for children with serious illnesses.

She had been nominated by Mrs Redfearn, now 43, after she had gone public, appearing on the kmfm breakfast show, to raise awareness of childhood strokes.

• Anyone wanting to join EKS Child Strokes should contact Mr Redfearn on 07947 371857.