A "fit and healthy" mum has been left with brain damage after suffering acute liver failure, which her husband says doctors believe was caused by a popular wellness supplement she'd been taking for a year.
What she was taking
Lois Kinder, 44, from Cheshire, had been taking gummies containing ashwagandha, an herb often promoted on social media for relaxation and easing perimenopause symptoms, alongside her morning coffee, for around 12 months. Kinder worked as a social media affiliate and had also been selling ashwagandha-based products online, receiving a steady supply of samples from companies to promote. The supplements can be bought for as little as $6 online or over the counter at high street health chains.
What happened
Last month, Kinder noticed her eyes and skin turning yellow, and visited her doctor believing she had a stomach bug, undergoing blood tests and a liver scan. Days later, on 13 July, her 19-year-old daughter Imogen found her unresponsive on the living room couch. Paramedics managed to wake her, but she was confused and didn't recognise her own children. She was rushed to Warrington Hospital, where tests confirmed her liver was failing, and she was placed into an induced coma before being transferred to the specialist Liver Intensive Care Unit at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.
The transplant and complications
Kinder was placed on the super urgent transplant list, and a donor liver became available on 22 July. During the transplant operation, she suffered three cardiac arrests caused by a blood clot blocking the main artery to her lungs, leaving her deprived of oxygen for a prolonged period. Her husband, Ollie, was told to prepare for the possibility she wouldn't survive, and doctors later believed she was brain dead, placing a do-not-resuscitate order on her. She woke from her coma on 13 August, defying expectations, though a retired neurological specialist brought in to assess her scans couldn't explain why she had regained consciousness.
Her condition now
Kinder has been able to recognise family members, say a few words, and show small signs of movement, but the complications she suffered have left her with significant brain damage. She remains in critical care undergoing daily neurological rehabilitation. Ollie said doctors have described her case as so rare and medically complex that they intend to publish it as a case study to help other healthcare professionals. It's currently believed ashwagandha was the main cause of her liver failure, though this remains under investigation. Ollie said the family has been told Kinder will likely be disabled in some form, adding: "At this stage, nobody knows what her recovery will look like. We don't know if she will walk again, regain full use of her body, or what level of care she will need in the future. What we do know is that Lois has already shown incredible strength, and we will continue to fight alongside her every step of the way."
Raising awareness
Ollie is speaking publicly on his wife's behalf to warn others about the potential risks of herbal supplements, saying: "I want to spread awareness and warn people that even if you think the supplement you are taking is safe, there can still be serious health consequences." The family is also crowdfunding to buy and adapt a house for Kinder's ongoing care, after being given notice on their current rental property.
