A mother had a near-fatal experience when a forceful yawn in the early morning resulted in her neck breaking. Hayley Black, 36, was startled by an intense ‘electric shock sensation’ that ran through her body as she stretched and yawned while getting out of bed to attend to her newborn baby, Amelia. This sudden event led to her arm becoming immobilized in an upward position, prompting her to urgently request an ambulance.
Upon arrival at the hospital, despite initial inconclusive scans, doctors discovered that Hayley had dislocated the C6 and C7 vertebrae in her neck due to the strength of her yawn. Although she faced a 50/50 chance of regaining mobility, successful emergency surgery enabled her to walk again. Sharing her story on TikTok, Hayley recounted the incident, which garnered over 1,000 views.
Following the surgery, Hayley now copes with permanent nerve damage, preventing her from working, and she remains deeply affected by the ordeal that transpired in May 2016. Reflecting on the incident, she expressed disbelief that a routine yawn could lead to such severe consequences. Despite ongoing challenges, she remains grateful for the successful surgery that allowed her to resume walking.
The road to recovery was arduous for Hayley, both physically and emotionally, requiring her to relearn walking and enduring months of wheelchair dependency. She now manages daily medication to address her nerve damage and contends with fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition.
Hayley emphasized the extensive impact of the incident on her daily life, including experiencing persistent pain and limitations in physical activities. The lasting trauma has made her wary of yawning, as it triggers panic due to the memory of the injury. She expressed gratitude to the medical team for enabling her to continue caring for her children and urged others to advocate for themselves, particularly regarding hidden disabilities.