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The 47-year-old mum-of-two spent 26 years addicted to drugs before it left her in a two-month coma and suffering nine strokes
A Midland mum has revealed her incredible transformation after beating a £900-a-day heroin addiction that left her in a coma for two months after suffering nine strokes.
Caroline Winyard, aged 47 and from Tamworth, turned to drugs at 18 and spend the next 26 years in a “downward spiral” as she shoplifted to pay for her habit.
In May 2023 she was taken to hospital when she couldn’t lift her left arm up and was put in an induced coma.
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When she came around two months later she was told she had endocarditis – a potentially fatal infection on the inner lining of the heart – which had caused nine strokes. Caroline had to spent another two months in hospital recovering before being discharged. The health scare gave her a wake-up call and she’s remained sober ever since and now wants to help others do the same. Caroline, who is unable to work due to her health, said: “I was in a downward spiral for 26 years. “I was spending £900-a-day. I couldn’t wake up without it. “I’d get up, not eat, go and shoplift and smoke.
“I was addicted and hooked. I was shoplifting every day.”
Caroline’s children – now aged 30 and 29 – were adopted when they were just two and she struggled to get out of the cycle of crime and drugs. In May 2023 she felt dizzy and thought she had vertigo. Her drug worker advised her to ring 999 but Caroline ignored the advice. She said: “I left it because I was taking drugs.” But the next day when she was unable to lift her arm up she was airlifted to University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire in Coventry. Caroline said: “I woke up two months later. I’d been in an induced coma. “I’d had two massive stroke and seven small ones.” She spent another two months in hospital but has been sober ever since.
However the strokes have left Caroline with mobility struggles with her left arm and leg. She said: “I can walk about five steps.” But despite this Caroline is grateful to be sober – she’s been able to go on holidays with her mum and has reconnected with her children. She said: “Why the hell did I let it get to this point? I’m alive. “I’ve got my kids back in my life. I wake up now and I don’t feel poorly. “I wake up on top of the world. My mum is so proud. “I wake up and smell the flowers. Before I just wanted drugs – that’s no life. “There’s light at the end of tunnel.”
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