Woman nearly dies after ‘forceful’ yawn breaks her neck and spinal cord (Pic credits: Kennedy News and Media/iStock)For 36-year-old Hayley Black, a forceful yawn meant to just entertain herself landed her in serious, life-threatening trouble. Without thinking, she just copied the action, but the reflex suddenly left her in severe pain and later paralysis. While the surgery did save her life, the damage to Hayley’s spinal cord was permanent, and she takes medicines to help her recover from the pain. What is a spinal cord injury? A spinal cord injury (or SCI) happens when there is damage to the spinal cord, which impairs its ability to send and receive signals, leading to changes in movement, sensation, and other bodily functions.