BRAVE leukaemia sufferer Joelene Kimbley is recovering after suffering a stroke.

The 23-year-old was continuing to recover from a life-saving bone marrow transplant, when she suffered a minor stroke last month.

She was rushed to Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital, where she has been cared for since.

Ms Kimbley, who had moved from her mother's Middlesbrough home to her own house ay Blackhall Colliery, County Durham, lost the use of her left side following the stroke.

She has since regained some feeling in her leg but her arm is still affected.

The stroke is not believed to be related to her transplant which was carried out last year.

The complicated operation - made more risky because the donor was not an exact match - was hailed a success and, until this set-back, Ms Kimbleywas making a good recovery.

She will now undergo physiotherapy to try to regain the use of her arm.

Ms Kimbley and her boyfriend Darren Armstrong were to marry in October and the family are hoping the ceremony can still go ahead.