"Her Face Was Drooping": Family Mistook 18-Year-Old Having a Stroke For Being Bitten by a Snake

• Jaden Jesson, 18, collapsed at Shelly Beach with facial drooping and loss of speech while spending time with her brother
• Her brother carried her on his shoulder and ran for help, believing she had been bitten by a snake
• Doctors at Shelly Beach Hospital confirmed she had suffered a life-threatening stroke caused by a complete brain artery blockage

An 18-year-old South African woman has shared her terrifying stroke experience after her family initially mistook her symptoms for a snake bite.

Jaden Jesson was sitting outside with her brother near a dam in Shelly Beach, KwaZulu-Natal, on 14 August 2026, when her vision suddenly blurred and her face began to droop. She recalled trying to reassure him that she was fine, but her left side went completely numb, and she started falling over.

Her brother turned around to find her staring blankly, unresponsive. His first instinct was that she had been bitten by a snake. He threw her over his shoulder and ran her up to their father without hesitation. Jaden later said she was cognitively aware enough to know she was having a stroke, but could not get the words out clearly.

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The family took her to a local doctor, who immediately sent her to casualty. Within 30 minutes of arriving at Shelly Beach Hospital, she had been assessed and taken in for an emergency procedure.

Doctors race to remove brain clot

Dr Gebermariam, a radiologist at Shelly Beach Hospital, explained that an MRI revealed a complete blockage of a right-side artery, with early signs of stroke damage already visible. Because Shelly Beach Hospital is the only facility on the coast with a Catheterisation Laboratory, he was able to perform the procedure on-site to remove the clot.

Jaden described the hours that followed as the most frightening of her life. The medication given to her caused spasms, and she had no feeling on her left side for around six hours. At one point, she genuinely believed she would be permanently paralysed. She remembered squeezing her father's hand after 20 minutes of trying, and the two broke down together when he felt it.

Within days, she was walking to the shower on her own and tying her hair into a ponytail. Physiotherapists were reportedly astonished by how quickly she recovered.

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Her sister-in-law, who was in the house at the time, said she initially thought Jaden's brother was just teasing her when she saw him carrying her. The family tried bananas and electrolytes first, suspecting dehydration, before the severity of the situation became clear.

Jaden later wrote:

"I was in the most incredible and capable hands. Thank you, guys and thank you, Jesus! Grateful beyond words."

South Africans react to Jaden's recovery

The story moved commenters on the Shelly Beach Hospital 24 Hours Facebook page:

@Colleen Davarajh said:

"Thanks to God and the Hospital staff. Get well soon, Jaden 🙏"

@Tracy Leigh Saville shared:

"Pray and trust God for his recovery; play Christian music over him. I will pray for Jaden; keep us updated, please 💖✝"

@Renee Coull said:

"It's absolutely awesome to see that you have recovered! 💕🙌🙌"

@Michelle Visscher added:

"Wishing Jade a speedy recovery 🤞"

See the Facebook clip below:

More on snakes and emergencies

• Briefly News recently reported on a man at a Zimbabwe campsite who faced a pride of lions at night, leaving viewers questioning his decision to move closer to the animals.
• A woman died after a Cape cobra bite after those around her reportedly waited for symptoms before seeking medical help.
• A South African man stunned viewers after calmly handling three mole snakes at once, sparking mixed reactions online.

Source: Briefly News