The brain stem
The stroke had damaged the brain stem part of Kate Adamson's brain.
The brainstem is the posterior part of the brain, which is situated between the cerebral hemispheres and the cervical spinal cord. The brainstem is composed of the midbrain, the pons, and the medulla oblongata. The brain stem contains various control centers for important body functions such as breathing, sleeping, vasomotor control and swallowing.