Jane Bullock, a former coach on the BBC's "Strictly Come Dancing," is at risk of losing her home as her family struggles to afford the ongoing costs of her round-the-clock care following a severe stroke. Bullock, 60, collapsed in her Wolverhampton home last August after teaching a dance class and was placed on life support for nearly a month.
After spending eight months in the hospital, Bullock returned home earlier this year. She now requires constant care due to partial blindness and the loss of movement on her left side. Her husband, Warren Bullock, 61, stated in a BBC Breakfast interview that his wife's life has "completely changed" since the stroke. The couple, who have run the ZigZag Dance Factory together for over 30 years, met when they were 19.
"I didn't realize the amount of work it would be, because some nights we'd get no sleep at all," Warren Bullock said. He detailed the relentless nature of her care, which includes assistance with daily functions, and managing her Crohn's disease, which exacerbates sleep deprivation. Bullock herself described her condition as if "all the wires in my head are broken."
Recalling the moment he realized his wife was having a stroke, Warren Bullock noticed she was only offering her right arm when he asked for her left, and observed her facial droop. The stroke left Bullock unable to walk.
The cost of Jane Bullock's care amounts to nearly £2,000 per week. This includes three private physiotherapy sessions weekly, as the National Health Service covers only two. Additionally, the family pays £1,640 per week for carers. "Nobody's got a spare £2,000-a-week coming in... and there's just no way I could cope on my own," Warren Bullock stated.
In June, he launched a GoFundMe campaign, which has raised over £72,000 to date. He expressed shock and gratitude for the public's support but urged the government to provide more assistance for families in similar situations. "The government doesn't have enough money to pay for care like this for everybody that needs it," he said.
The GoFundMe page outlines the extensive needs, including 24-hour care, daily neuro-physiotherapy, specialist equipment, accessible transport, and home adaptations for a downstairs wet room and toilet. The couple's dream is for Jane to walk again and regain a better quality of life. Jane Bullock, a former world-renowned ballroom dancer who represented England internationally, has maintained a healthy lifestyle, making her condition particularly devastating.