A 36-year-old woman says her life changed in an instant when she experienced a sudden 'clicking sensation', an intense headache and her skin turning 'tomato red'. Victoria Harman originally brushed off the signs as a migraine, but when the painful symptoms persisted, occurring three times in one week, she knew something was seriously wrong.
Victoria, from London, said "Out of nowhere, my body said 'enough' and I got this sensation like having something click in your body. All of a sudden, the pain went from 0 to 10, and it was unlike any headache I've had in my life. It felt like I was potentially having a stroke or something, which lasted a couple of days."
After experiencing the third 'thunderclap' headache in one week, Victoria was rushed to the hospital, where they found she had seriously high blood pressure. She said: "They initially suspected I'd had a brain haemorrhage, aneurysm or a stroke, and ran multiple CT scans and MRIs, as well as performing a lumbar puncture test."
Victoria was diagnosed with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) - a neurological disorder characterised by recurrent, sudden, severe "thunderclap" headaches caused by temporary, multifocal narrowing of cerebral arteries - which usually largely corrects itself within three months.
In the meantime, she was forced to step away from her fast-paced corporate career to focus on her health following the May 2023 diagnosis. The condition is unpredictable, with the cause unknown, though Victoria had been working long hours in the lead-up to her diagnosis.
Victoria said: "It just completely stopped me from being able to do anything. For two months, I was put on a very powerful drug that knocked me out for most of the day. I was losing my balance and started constantly forgetting things like my keys, even leaving my entire handbag and wallet at home, which I'd never done before.
"For someone who was really ambitious and built their career on momentum, this sudden illness was jarring and really hard to accept. I was forced to take time off work - I needed to take a minimum of about 2.5-3 months of recovery, which is really difficult to do.
"I was told that I really needed to manage my stress, and that if I felt anything stressful during that time period, I could have a stroke and die. When you see that written on a piece of paper - such as on a note from the hospital - that's definitely going to motivate you to really slow things down."
But while she was initially devastated at the career break, it gave her time to reassess her priorities. Victoria said: "When you're forced to slow down, you start to think about what you actually want to do with your time and energy. I was no stranger to hard work and stress in my career, and had always been a high achiever.
"It wasn't unheard of for me to be working late into the night, and then have meetings at 7am the next day. My work days were heavily packed and fast-paced. I certainly never thought I'd have to choose between good health and the opportunities I was so sure were appropriate or the right fit for my career trajectory.
"It definitely made me take a step back and look at the bigger picture. For the first time, I realised that tomorrow isn't guaranteed. I realised I wanted to do something entrepreneurial and meaningful in my next role."
Her job became redundant during her sick leave, but, inspired by working for global retail brands in the past, Victoria decided to launch her own curated shopping channel, Rajani Baker, featuring her own designs, as well as pieces from independent Indian designers from around the world.
She said: "It gave me a new purpose when my life suddenly changed. I wanted to create something that not only showcased incredible artisanship but also, in many cases, supported female entrepreneurs in India and the diaspora. I had an opportunity to take a trip there during my studies, and learned a lot about the textile business there, and I always greatly admired the quality and craftsmanship of pieces that came from India."
Victoria was able to fund the launch of the company herself using savings, spending a year getting things off the ground - producing her own products, sourcing others from other designers, and working on branding and the legal side of the business.
The website officially launched in November 2024. Still recovering, Victoria started slowly, some days only able to work for just a couple of hours before she needed to rest, having also been diagnosed with an arterial stenosis - a condition which reduces or blocks blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body - alongside still managing her blood pressure and recurring, though less intense, headaches.
But, despite all she has had to contend with over the past two years, Victoria has managed to create a successful, thriving business - and is now her own boss, managing her schedule to ensure her health is never sacrificed again.
Sharing her story with the Lemonade Leaders podcast, which shares stories of people who have turned their toughest challenges into something good, Victoria said: "I feel proud of what I've been able to accomplish so far. While building a start-up is hard work, there is a lot of fulfilment that comes from building the workplace you wish you had seen and giving recognition to talents and achievements you wish had been given more of a platform to shine in other roles and organisations.
"I've never been one for quick wins, and I have my eyes set on big things for Rajani Baker."
As well as her growing business, which includes hiring freelancers to assist her, Victoria has been able to focus more on her own wellbeing since the scare. She added: "I'm more in tune with listening to my body these days, and prioritise having time to do relaxing things like sound baths, nature walks and even puppy yoga.
"I think my illness really stripped life down to the essentials. I take each day as it comes and do my best to live a 'normal' life now. I think for anyone who has undergone a life-threatening situation, I would hope that it would become an inflexion point in their lives.
"You start to see things a little differently, and your priorities become a bit different. If anything, I have become more - not less - ambitious.
"I have just set my eyes on bigger goals that would bring a bigger level of personal fulfilment because I had the chance to 'zoom out' a bit and see that bigger picture of this one, incredible life we get."