Renowned TV star Dame Mary Berry recently opened up about a harrowing health ordeal from her early life, emphasizing how “immensely fortunate” she feels to have overcome a traumatic experience. Berry revealed that as a teenager, she battled the potentially fatal disease polio, which landed her in the hospital at just 13 years old. Reflecting on the tumultuous time, the Great British Bake Off star expressed gratitude, acknowledging, “The little girl in the bed beside me died so I knew just how lucky I was to be able, finally, to go home at the end of those 12 weeks.”
In spite of the distressing ordeal, Dame Mary found strength and positivity in her journey, remarking, “My childhood illness made me stronger and taught me to make the most of every opportunity.” Remarkably, she has gone on to achieve immense success in her career, making her television debut in the 1970s and solidifying her place in the hearts of audiences worldwide.
Famed for her role on The Great British Bake Off, alongside co-judge Paul Hollywood, Mary Berry became an icon of the culinary world. Despite stepping down from the show in 2016, her influence endures, and her resilience is an inspiration to many.
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In the UK, the prevalence of polio has significantly decreased, owing to widespread vaccination efforts. The NHS reports no confirmed cases of paralysis due to polio caught in the country since 1984. While most individuals with the disease remain asymptomatic, those who do experience symptoms can expect flu-like manifestations such as a high temperature, extreme fatigue, headaches, vomiting, a stiff neck, and muscle pain.