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Danielle Peebles, 42, decided to get weight loss surgery as she was desperate to be able to help out with her new grandsonCredit: MEN Media 5<\/p>\n But she suffered severe nerve damage after the surgery and was paralysed from the neck downCredit: northerncarealliance.nhs.uk<\/p>\n But after flying back to the UK, she was warned by doctors she may never walk again. <\/p>\n Danielle travelled to Turkey<\/a> for a gastric sleeve operation in the summer<\/a> 2023, choosing to get the surgery abroad due to long waits for weight loss surgery<\/a> on the NHS<\/a>. <\/p>\n She told Manchester Evening News<\/a>: \u201cI was absolutely desperate. I put on a lot of weight over the years. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a long wait on the NHS for surgery and I appreciate that, no one could really tell me how long that was going to be.<\/p>\n “I was trying to improve myself, and be a better mum and a better nana as quickly as possible as my grandson was about to be born.<\/p>\n \u201cI was doing what I thought was best for us.”<\/p>\n The surgery cost Danielle \u00a32,995 and went smoothly, which was a relief as she’d been feeling nervous to do it. <\/p>\n But the gran knew something was wrong the moment she arrived back home. <\/p>\n “I just couldn\u2019t eat, I couldn\u2019t keep anything down<\/a>, I could barely have any liquid,” Danielle said. <\/p>\n “That carried on for weeks and months, I just couldn\u2019t tolerate anything.\u201d<\/p>\n My son, 12, was minutes from death from terrifying trend that burns holes in kids\u2019 bowels, leaving them with stoma bags<\/p>\n Danielle emailed back and forth with medics at the Turkish hospital, but in December 2023 they told her to go to A&E. <\/p>\n There, the gran was told she was severely dehydrated<\/a> and placed on a drip. <\/p>\n But she was back in hospital in January 2024 after feeling her legs go numb and collapsing. <\/p>\n Danielle said: \u201cI\u2019d never had weight loss surgery, so I didn\u2019t know if this was just part of it.<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n Though the surgery went smoothly, Danielle suffered side effects that left her with a severe nutrient deficiencyCredit: MEN Media<\/p>\n “But then I collapsed and when I came round, I was paralysed<\/a> from the neck down and couldn\u2019t walk.\u201d<\/p>\n Danielle was diagnosed with nutritional neuropathy, a rare and severe vitamin deficiency that resulted in severe nerve damage, causing paralysis. <\/p>\n She couldn’t walk or move but her feet would be racked with agonising pain at the slightest touch. <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think I quite realised that I was paralysed, it takes a doctor to tell you even though you can\u2019t walk,\u201d Danielle revealed.<\/p>\n What are the risks of getting surgery abroad?<\/p>\n IT’S important to do your research if you’re thinking about having cosmetic surgery abroad.<\/p>\n It can cost less than in the UK, but you need to weigh up potential savings against the\u00a0potential risks. <\/p>\n Safety standards in different countries may not be as high.<\/p>\n No surgery is risk-free. Complications can happen after surgery in the UK or abroad.<\/p>\n If you have complications after an operation in the UK, the surgeon is responsible for providing follow-up treatment.<\/p>\n Overseas clinics may not provide follow-up treatment, or they may not provide it to the same standard as in the UK.<\/p>\n Also, they may not have a healthcare professional in the UK you can visit if you have any problems.<\/p>\n Source: NHS <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think I understood the severity of how poorly I was. Then I was told I had very severe nerve damage and might not walk again.<\/p>\n \u201cThe surgical side of my procedure had all been fine, it was how my body dealt with it.<\/p>\n “You don\u2019t hear that you can get nutritional neuropathy from not eating. You\u2019re not told about these side effects because they\u2019re so rare.<\/p>\n \u201cIt really upset me, I had such mum guilt. The surgery had totally backfired.\u201d<\/p>\n ‘Inspiring’<\/p>\n Danielle spent five months under the care of medics at the Salford<\/a> Royal Hospital, unsure if she would ever recover. <\/p>\n But – slowly but surely – she began to regain sensation in her limbs. <\/p>\n With the help of physiotherapists, support workers and dietitians, the gran was able to make small but steady gains with movement. <\/p>\n She was able to lift herself up to give her son a cuddle, and has now progressed to being able to walk. <\/p>\n Danielle said she still has “a long way to go”, but she’s been able to accomplish more than she dreamed she could just a few months ago. <\/p>\n She recently visited the hospital again<\/a>, walking unaided to say a big thank you to Dr Dan Whittam, a consultant in the neurology department who was heavily involved in her care. <\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/danielle-peebles-patient-danielle-arrived-984463121.jpg\")
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