Wayne Martinez

My name is Wayne, I'm 40 now but in 2009 I had FOUR strokes and lost 90% of the use in my left side. I stayed with my family in Wareham until 2012 then moved back to Bournemouth to live by myself.

Before my strokes I weighed 9 stone and was in reasonable shape. When I moved back to Bournemouth I was very depressed as a result of my condition because I couldn't work or do anything else. I started coming to the gym and as I'd lost so much weight and could hardly talk, I quietly trained in one of the rooms where I could be by myself.

All the staff and management have helped me so much as it's hard for me to do things with 1 hand and I get very tired. I've now got a lot of my balance back and as I have to speak to the staff my speech has improved too.

The feel good endorphins have literally changed my life as I could see no point in going on before.

“If you see me limping around; as I'm here most days; feel free to ask me anything. If I can go from 9 stone, cook, live, eat and train with 1 arm, anyone can...unless you've got a list of excuses.

Thanks to all the staff, and I hope this helps nervous joiners”

Julie Lesslie

My stroke happened at 6.00 am on 2 July 2012.  I'd got up to go to the loo and as I was going back to bed I collapsed.  I was drifting in and out of consciousness but I didn't try to call for my husband, who was downstairs, For some bizarre reason I was just incredibly happy!  My husband found me about 15 minutes later and immediately called an ambulance.  I was taken to Watford General Hospital where I was to stay for the next 7 weeks and they told my husband that I'd had a major stroke and it turned out after having an MRI scan that I'd had a clot and a bleed!.  The main thing I remember is wetting myself when I had my MRI scan because I couldn't talk, but I thought I could!  It was very embarrassing for me but the nurses were great and just dealt with it.  The doctors couldn't find why I'd had the stroke so I had some tests done on my heart, which were awful and they sedated me first but it was still horrible!  They discovered I had a large hole in my heart which they think might have caused my stroke, but they'll never know for sure.  I hated being in hospital because I was the youngest person there by about 30 years. I can remember one day seeing the Doctor and being told that I would never walk or use my right arm (and I'm right handed!) again.  I remember crying a lot.  I was 48 years old.

After 7 weeks I finally left the hospital and was taken by ambulance to rehabilitation  in St Albans Hospital where I stayed for 8 weeks.  They managed to get me walking using a walking stick but my arm was very limp and I couldn't move it at all.  I had some extra bannisters fitted in my house and after making sure I could manage the stairs I was able to come home for weekends.  Because my toilet is upstairs I had to have a commode which was a godsend.

I had my heart fixed in the November 2012 and then I had NHS physiotherapy for six months.  When it finished I thought "now what?!".  I was very isolated, I couldn't drive and I had to give up the work which I loved, I was a PA to the Headmaster in a large comprehensive school, and all my friends work.  I then found a lady quite by chance who is ARNI trained and for about 2 years I saw her twice a week.  I then found a lady called Farsideh Bondarenko who's a neuro physiotherapist and I'm now seeing her twice a month.  She tells me that I'm her best patient and she can't believe I've come so far!

I'm currently training to become a counsellor and I'll qualify in July 2017.  It's very hard work but I'll get there.  I'm about 90% better. I've got an adapted car which has got a "driving stick" on the steering wheel and the pedals have been swapped round so that I drive using my left foot.  I'm still trying to write and next week I've got 3 weeks of intensive physiotherapy on my arm and shoulder.  I think that now all the muscles work but they're very weak so fingers crossed intensive physiotherapy (about 6 hours every day!) will do the trick!  My speech isn't what it used to be, but I've had a lot of speech therapy and I've got mild aphasia but I've got used to it and speak much slower than I used to.  In a way, whilst I can't say I'm happy that I had my stroke but before my life was very stressful, and now I don't get stressed about anything and I certainly wouldn't have become a counsellor! 

Katie Castle

On the 16th October 1995 I had a stroke. I was 6 years old. My mum found me collapsed, with one side of my face already dropped. I was rushed to the local hospital, where I had tests and then quickly transferred by emergency ambulance to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

I was diagnosed with a stroke caused by a clot on the right side of my brain. I had completely lost the use of my left side, I was in and out of consciousness and my mother was told I would never walk again. I spent two weeks in hospital and left in a wheelchair.

My recovery wasn't easy, and it still isn't to this day. I had a term away from school and returned in a wheelchair. I eventfully learnt to walk and talk again, but my life would never be the same.

People have always said it's ok because I've never known any different.  It was never ok.  I missed so much and every little thing was and is a struggle. The thing I struggled with most was peoples’ attitudes. Kids are mean and growing up being different was hard. Adults aren't much better. Even now I feel embarrassed when I get stares walking down the street, or when people challenge my use of a disabled parking space.

Anyway enough about the bad stuff: I made it! Well, I'm making it….!

That day was nearly 22 years ago. Here I am;

I'm 27, I can walk (albeit painfully),

I can drive an adapted car,

I went to school and university where I got a degree in occupational therapy.

Last year, I got married and I already have two beautiful children (Jacob is nearly 3 and Amélie is 3 months), so life is pretty crazy but we get by!

By no means am I a Paralympic athlete but there's not much I've set out to achieve that I haven't been able to.

I will always be eternally grateful to those who saved my life back then. And to those who never let me believe anything is impossible. Without knowing it, they help me keep going every day. My mum, my husband, my friends and my children.

I once read that people who have strokes have 1 in 3 possible outcomes - complete recovery, some form of disability or death. Every time I kiss my kids goodnight I'm thankful that I had the middle outcome. I'm lucky that I can live my life by the abilities I do have and not by the ones that I don't.

Sabine Oppenlander - Carer

He survived his stroke, Gary, my partner. Theoretically he should have died. So they keep telling him. They made mistakes along the way, he already had two TIAs and they didn't care for him properly, just discharged him from hospital, so when he had the massive stroke they just shrugged their shoulders. They said he would never be able to walk again or use his arm and hand, yet here he is, walking, albeit with a stick and only 10 steps at a time before he collapses and has to sit down. Unfortunately the epilepsy got the better of him after a year and he declined but he managed to pick himself up again. Then the depression came - side effect of the epilepsy drugs. That is counteracted with Fluoxetine. They want to put him back on Gabapentin but the paracetamol tabs and ibuprofen gel is doing the trick for now. That and CBD oil. So now I want to take him back home, my home that is. Because my family offers us all the support and care we don't get from his. And I bet he will recover even more and at least be able to walk without a stick. In 5 years time. Maybe.

Different Strokes helped us by just being there. Having a group where one can vent one's sadness but also tell about one's happiness is a great help and although Gary isn't "using" your group as such, I tell him what is said and what great advice and support we receive from you and the members. Which makes him more confident and lets him know that he is not alone, that there are people who are in the same situation and who care. 

Julia Fisher

We arrived in Santorini and felt like it was paradise. A much needed break in the face of a year of relentless stress including husband's heart op, caring for my lovely mum who has dementia, sister in law very ill with cancer and worst of all my husband's brother violently murdered in his own home. You get the picture - we sorely needed this down time.

So, on the first night we enjoyed a beautiful meal on the edge of the sea, and joined in with some Greek dancing - perfect evening and we began to slowly unwind.

We got up early the next day (26/5/16) to go on a boat trip - so down to grab an early breakfast. About to leave the room I suddenly felt really sick - mouth watering - so I ducked into the toilet and tried to retch but it passed. Odd. I didn't mention it to Trev (my husband) and cracked on, breakfast and boat trip beckoned! So we left the room, Trev several steps behind me. I made it down two marble staircases and the walk the length of the swimming pool when I collapsed to the ground, fell down 3 steps spraining my right ankle and grazing my neck and ear quite badly.

A sea of helping hands got me up and into a chair. Trev thought I'd died - he said my eyes were totally glazed and nobody home.

Whilst I felt disconnected I was strangely calm and acutely aware of everything going on and what people were saying. I could hear an emergency Dr had been called. I could hear Trev's anxiety. A lady who was assisting waved her hands in front of my eyes - even staring into my eyes and I just thought 'I wish she'd go away'. It was a very odd feeling. Then I thought I should tell Trev I'm ok - I could hear how worried he was. So I went to whisper to him. To say 'I'm alright' and to my horror what came out of my mouth was complete gobbledegook. So I had expressive aphasia. I knew enough about it to realise I must have at best had a TIA and at worst a stroke. Then I did feel fear.

My speech was still flawed but had returned when the Dr showed up. He checked me over. I choked on the water I was passed initially (another indicator of stroke) but then swallowed ok. He decided I had concussion from when I hit my head. I lifted my arms, I stood without problem.

I told him about the aphasia but he stayed with his concussion diagnosis as I had no other external symptoms of stroke.

The next 40 hours we were in shock. I daren't speak as I was getting words wrong. We stumbled around trying to believe the concussion diagnosis and to continue with the holiday!

Then I told Trev I knew I had to get home to get proper help. We both knew 'something' had occurred.

He moved heaven and earth to get us a flight. Trev had left his car in Birmingham and we'd flown from there. The only flights we could get back were to Newcastle the night of 28/5/16, so I googled how much aspirin I should take, swallowed it and hoped for the best. It was surreal and very frightening. We got to Loughborough in a taxi chucked the cases through the door at home, got into my car and went directly to A&E.

To be met by total disbelief firstly from the intake nurse 'so why do you think you've had a stroke, you look fine to me'. And then a few hours later the same conversation with the doctor!

He almost sent me home untreated - but we stuck to our guns and insisted that the expressive aphasia was not normal. And whilst it had improved massively I still 'wasn't myself'.

So he reluctantly sent me for a CT scan.

By this time Trev and I were beginning to wonder if we had wasted everyone's time and I was mentally ready to be sent home.

The Dr rushed in looking visibly shocked. His words were 'I have bad news, you've suffered a major stroke. Left side infarct. A Mid Cerebral Vascular Accident (cva)' So I was packed off to the stroke unit for a couple of days. In total shock.

I'm 60, a non-drinker, non-smoker. Take no tablets and have no diagnosed ailments. Exercise a lot. Low blood pressure and pulse. How could this have happened to me? I didn't understand.

Because I suffer bad migraines and had no indicators for stroke, I was sent for a bubble echo and found to have a PFO (Patent Foramen Ovale) - a hole in the heart which is present in 25% of the population and can allow blood to travel from heart to brain bypassing filtration of the lungs. It's a funny thing, but I felt relieved with the diagnosis - yes it was a problem but it provided me with a reason - an explanation!

I'm seeing my stroke consultant this week and he's arranged for me to see a cardiologist to discuss whether to close the hole. Interestingly I've had 3 unexplained funny turns which in hindsight I think could have been TIAs. The first when I was 31.

I'm a really positive person and refuse to be defined by it. Since the stroke I've worked on brain training apps on my phone and Trev asks me questions using the game Articulate to help my word retrieval and cognitive processing. I've ramped up my fitness incorporating aqua aerobics in addition to the gym and long dog walks. I am going to start using wii fit to help my balance to try to feel more centred/stable when I've worked out how to use it!

So that is my story. Ironically I have 2 photos here that were taken on 25th May 2016 evening, the night before the stroke. The one at the pool shows me relaxing on a sun bed overlooking where I walked then fell as you reach the right of the photo the following day. The other one shows me happy and relaxed. What a difference a few hours can make!

Caroline Myers

Those with peripheral vision who miss half of our food on plate.. Sussed it! 😁 just cooked my Sunday lunch used new plates. Saw everything. Happy lady only taken 6 years to suss 😛😵 square plates.

Derek Baker

I had my stroke 14 years ago, it happened during a medical procedure. The help and support given, initially to my wife was great. Often the partner of the stroke survivor is forgotten. The was someone to help her help me, and that I believe made the difference. 

My daughter has done a couple of fun runs and raised funds. At the time I was a coach for a boys football team (under 12s) my son organised a football match at his school and raised about £50 from the kids donation. 

Different Strokes made a big difference to the forgotten survivors of a stroke, the family, it's nice to know its not just you, you're not the only one it happens to others. Thank you for being there.

Donna Richardson

At 35 I was the creative director of Ralph Lauren Europe and at the top of my game. Married to a wonderful man and with a great career, the next thing to do was have a baby. I left work to go on maternity leave and at the end of my pregnancy developed a condition called preeclampsia, still I was told that preeclampsia was cured once you gave birth so four weeks later I gave birth to a wonderful baby boy and I couldn't be happier. 

Five weeks later I developed a pain in my neck and a terrible headache. Putting this down to the tiredness and stress of caring for a baby I didn't worry too much until one day I found myself unable to find the words for what I was trying to say and could not remember my cats names. I laughed it off and it went away but a few days later I found myself fallen out of bed unable to get up, terrified of the light coming in through the curtains. 

My husband called an ambulance and causing quite a scene on my street with 3 ambulances, 2 police cars and a helicopter I was carted off to hospital and put into an induced coma. I was in a coma for 10 days and after coming round was convinced I was fine because my brain could only recognise the right. The left being completely paralysed and suffering from Hemispatial neglect I couldn't understand what all the fuss was about and told the doctors all I needed was a hot bath, cup of tea and a kit kat! I realised the problem when I tried to get up and walk to the toilet, I couldn't!  

After 101 days in hospital I came home still in a wheelchair but able to talk eat and drink and very keen to take care of my baby. After another month or so I was up on my feet with the aid of a walking stick. No movement in my left arm or hand unfortunately but quickly learnt how to do most things one handed and most importantly back home with my husband and son. 

After such a devastating shock to our new family we reevaluate our lives and decided to leave our London jobs behind and start a new life in Devon where we met whilst at university. Our son is now five and has just finished his first year at primary school. 

Unable to return to work yet due to seizures caused by the stroke and severe fatigue I couldn't just sit at home doing nothing so I decided to fulfill a long held dream and begin a part - time masters degree in photography at Plymouth university. I have just passed my first year and with another year to go I am very excited to be taking my photography forward to a new and exciting place! 

Although I still have some difficulties as a result of my stroke I am very happy to be here and feeling positive about the future.

Glen Dawson

I was at work in July 2014 when my whole vision went grey. I couldn't see for about 10-15 seconds. When my vision returned I felt like my head had been punched several times by Mike Tyson.

After 2 days and many trips to the doctors having being diagnosed with a bad migraine. I was finally sent to the hospital. They cat scanned me and found nothing.

After about a week I noticed that I had a blind spot in my vision. Again after several trips to the doctors they referred me back to the hospital where I was eventually seen by a specialist who recommended a mri scan.

After a few weeks went passed a letter came through the post to say that the scan had come back as normal. This is now oct 2014. Fast forward to Feb 2016 where again I was at work when I had a seizure.

I ended up in Addenbrooke's hospital in Cambridge who cat scanned me again to find that I had had a stroke. BUT the specialist this time told me that the stroke was up to 2 years old and that the seizure was a direct result of the stroke.

I have had a 24 hour heart monitor. Echocardiogram and cat scan with the colourful liquid they pump in and found nothing really wrong. I am on anti seizure, blood thinning and cholesterol tablets. I have lost my driving license for 12 months.

I am now awaiting to go back into Addenbrooke's on Friday 13th to have a bubble echo and a scan of the heart from the inside where I believe I will swallow a probe. Nice.

But I am very lucky. I have no visible signs of stroke.

Gary Wright

I was only 56 and had always been healthy and physically fit, I was a committed cyclist (before it became fashionable). I guess I took my health for granted and saw no reason why I would ever lose it. 

I had joined the police when I was just 18 and I continued to serve for 32 years. Having always made full contributions into their very good pension scheme I expected to be able to enjoy a long and healthy retirement with my wife and young son and also be able to continue ticking things off the bucket list. I had already ridden Alpe D'Huez and Mont Ventoux next it was The Inca Trail and Atlas Mountains. 

Back home summer 2015 and back on my bike. I'm a little bit too big to be a pure hill climber but was planning to enter some hilly sportive events so set myself a training plan to improve my climbing. Worked hard on fitness and  spinning speed but by the end of summer was ready to start working on pure power. 6th September went out for a ride with my friend Andy McAllister with a set of hillclimb sprint intervals planned. This meant finding the steepest hill we could think of and sprinting up it full gas before circling gently round to the foot of the 2nd steepest hill in the area and sprinting up that then on to 3rd steepest hill and so on. Now at the top of the final climb I was a bit exhausted and starting with a headache. Climbing hard meant standing on the pedals, pulling hard on the handle bars and swinging head & shoulders.

So, enough of the background and my life story, now let me tell you about my survival. After my training ride I made it home but some time later I was feeling a bit odd and started having visual disturbances similar to what you would get before a migraine. Next thing legs went really weak and I slid to the ground, this was my stroke. 

I had survived it insofar as I had not died but my real survival journey was just starting. During the next few weeks in hospital I underwent a battery of tests and scans before being introduced to physiotherapists and starting the hardest work I had ever done. 

The stroke had disabled my left side vision, left leg, hand and arm. First job was to get out of bed and learn to walk again. I never actually fell over but I was very wobbly, eventually I started to get the hang of it and moved hospitals, into a rehab facility where I could get more intensive physio. My left leg started getting stronger and finally I was allowed home, still getting support from community therapists, but keen to move forwards more quickly I was doing additional sessions with a private therapist and personal trainer whom I was paying for myself.
Ability to walk and balance quickly improved but still nothing from my hand and not much from the arm. I felt pretty low for much of the time as I struggled to accept that my life was changed permanently. 

Reluctantly seeking chemical help, anti-depressants were able to lift my mood, also I was introduced to the Different Strokes community where I found friendship, support, advice and motivation. More exercise and the purchase of an electrical stimulation device for my left leg allowed me to increase my walking distance and become a little more optimistic  

We heard about a research project being run at The Royal Hallamshire Hospital where stem cells would be introduced over the damaged area of my brain with the hope that this could help create new neural pathways for my left hand and arm to exploit and improve their movement. I was lucky enough to be accepted onto the trial and have now undergone the procedure. 

It hasn't magically brought anything back to life but we have noticed some small improvements in my wrist and even fingers and thumb. 12 months poststroke I can walk reasonably well and am confident enough to do a bit without a walking stick use of an exercise bike and plenty of walking practice with ongoing physiotherapy has given me back enough strength and stamina for me to be considering getting back on a bike: an adapted 3 wheeler. 

Sweat, tears and the support of family & friends have all helped me to survive, the quality of my survival is more or less in my own hands and will depend on how much hard work I am prepared to put in. 

Full recovery is possible in time.

Emily Rose Draper's husband - Paul.

My husband back on the road today after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke, it was a very large and devastating bleed, never dreamed he would be able to drive again! But here he is almost 3 years later ‪#‎nevergiveup‬

Greg Hollingworth

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to thank Different Strokes for giving me something more useful to do with my time than I thought I’d ever be doing.  Whilst I’ve had the pleasure of speaking to many people who’ve rung the Strokeline or used the online webchat on the days I volunteer, I’m sure there are many who are unaware of why I volunteered and now work for Different Strokes and take it so seriously.

I had a stroke as a result of a car accident in 2004 – I was a pedestrian hit at high speed on one of the dual carriageways, yards from my old home.  I survived a traumatic head injury, which resulted in a bleed to the brain.  I understand I was declared dead at some point and had to be resuscitated, albeit in a coma, unable to eat or breathe without machinery. 

Frankly I might as well have been comatose for several years as it took years before my brain seemed to recover enough to trust itself with emotion.  I’d gone from having a practically faultless memory to having an almost text book head injury recovery. 

I’m really not sure I’ll ever know how much my memory impairment is a result of the fact that ‘life’ at the time (if you can call it that) was so unbearable that your brain just shuts it out or how much was a result of my brain being physiologically incapable of retrieving new memories due to the ongoing amnesia I was suffering. 

They had to tell me every day – and for months – you’re 30 in a year and a bit – you’ve been in a car accident and you’re training to be an accountant.

My period of retrograde amnesia meant that I’d completely forgotten having moved cities, changed careers, having been hospitalised for months and even having a dog. I’d like to say that seeing my dog again brought back memories but I was actually that confused during my 3 months of post traumatic amnesia (the time until a more regular understanding of day to day memory becomes possible) that I remembered none of this even when it was put right in front of me.

Being driven to a home I’d apparently moved to was a bizarre experience.  If it wasn’t for the fact I recognised items and books with my writing in then I wouldn’t have believed this was where I lived.  Typing this now reminds me I still don’t choose to retrieve memories of that time without good reason because it’s really just too painful.

It’s difficult to believe how I managed to keep going during that time when life was planned out one hour at a time, religiously following a prompt from my mobile phone or wall chart to inform me what I needed to try to accomplish.  When you slowly, and I stress very slowly, put one foot in front of the other, eventually it gets that little bit easier.  At one day at a time, you don’t realise the progress you are making.  If damage to your brain doesn’t makes you learn patience, then nothing will - I’m sure most stroke survivors can empathise.

After the period of retrograde amnesia I had the most delightful experience I’ve ever had and it’s difficult to both explain a slight physical high and just the overwhelming nature of having a year or two of memories suddenly become accessible within a matter of about 24 to 48 hours.  In retrospect it seems like something from a cross between a science fiction film or a true movie and if I hadn’t experienced it personally, I’d struggle to even believe it was somebody’s genuine experience.

Thankfully I learned quite early on that ‘if you don’t laugh you’ll cry’.  I’ve no idea how long ago it was that I took down the huge notice on my front door ‘Make sure you’re fully clothed before you leave the house’.  The fact that nobody complained that the madman down the road was putting his bins out naked again was small mercy for the fact I hadn’t realised I had been doing it for God knows how long.  I needed the reminder since I still have mornings when I wake up completely blank and have to go back to square one.

I also lost the majority of my sense of touch.  The best way to explain it is that it’s like your whole body is in a glove or it’s like trying to get something out of your pockets with gloves on.  This has its benefits but you soon realise how dangerous it can be.  The fascination of learning what burning flesh smells like wears off quickly when you realise it’s your own after picking a red hot tray out of the oven without feeling pain.

When I came to decorate my flat after finally managing to live independently again, it wasn’t much of a contest which of 2 items to place on my wall: my masters degree in Biochemistry from Oxford University or the gift from the Rayners Hedge facility in Aylesbury where I had my longer term care - a pillowcase signed by the nurses who were patient and kind to me during that time.  That pillowcase sits with pride of place framed on my wall and reminds me I bothered to get off my backside to try and change my own life for the better.                                           

I could look back on my life and say ‘poor me’ but frankly I wouldn’t change any of it or I wouldn’t be the person I am today.  I’d often tell myself that rather than focus on what I couldn’t do, to rephrase it and simply just add the word ‘yet’.  I may not have the life I imagined, but several years ago I decided to go to bed happy.  I’m glad I learned that early on, rather than allowing myself to wallow in self pity for too long.  To me it’s all about perspective. 

I often remind myself of the best bit of advice I was ever given:  ‘if things don’t change, then they stay the same’.  In at least one Eastern language they use the same word for “crisis” and “opportunity”.  Sometimes it’s difficult to see a silver lining but it’s unlikely there isn’t one to any cloud.

A quote from Helen Keller that helped me in the early days when things were changing and beyond my control was: “When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we don’t see the one which has opened for us.”                                            

I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to volunteer at Different Strokes and my whole outlook on life has changed as a result.  I’m also grateful to have had the privilege of working with Peter (Shave), the volunteer we sadly lost a few years ago. If he caught me getting all ‘poor me’ about anything, he’d simply look, smile and say ‘But you’re alive!’  I’m sure he wouldn’t mind me reusing the phrase he used about Different Strokes which was that volunteering here gives us an opportunity to turn what most might see as a liability into an asset and to see how our experience might benefit others.  Raising over £1000 by jumping out of a plane in 2011 was a fantastic experience and my way of giving back and saying thanks. 

I now photograph and put on Facebook everything I eat. It stops me getting overweight - stops me losing weight from lack of self care - but importantly it shows people who access the Internet that I'm looking after myself.  Also they remind me to eat if I forget.

Finally, thank you to everyone who’s helped me, especially family and friends, the caring organisations I volunteer and now work with and a few health care professionals whom I can’t thank enough.

Michelle Sheridan

I was 27 when I had my stroke. 

I was extremely fortunate and was scanned and thrombolysed within 3 hours. No physical deficits now, still left with some anxiety that I never had before. I returned to my work as a physiotherapist and now (at 36) have 2 beautiful daughters. 

Different Strokes helped me find support in the early days of my recovery. 

Many thanks x

Stephen May

On the 6th March 2013, my life changed. 

This is the day of my first stroke. I lost the use of my left hand side, my eyes had shifted to one side & after being projectile sick, my throat closed up so I was unable to swallow. I was 22 days off my 51st birthday. 

After getting to Norwich's a&e, I was thrombolysed & had loads of tests, to be put in Haydon ward. I was in loads of pain, very frightened and not understanding what was going on. It took 3 days before I could swallow again & another day before I was sat out of bed. I was unable to stand at that time. A poor man died in the corner bed, as I sat there unable to move anywhere. There was only 6 beds in the ward, so I was pretty close by. It made me feel very sad at that time, but, made me feel how lucky I was. 

After 10 days on a Friday I made my great escape, thanks to all the hospital staff & my wife, I left walking out with the help of a stick. 6 weeks of aftercare at home, it was then left to up to me. Worked my way to walking again & tried to go back to work some mornings, my pay was 2 months behind, as the company was struggling at this time. 

The September of 2013 I did not feel I could work, as I felt unwell. 22nd November 2013 I had my second stroke, a week after the company I worked for went into liquidation. This time my left side went again & my eyes went one sided but I could still swallow. 5 days in hospital, out again, back to square one. Lots of tests again, more pills no work, owed 3 to 4 months pay but this time went onto sick benefit. I did get a payout thanks to our Government, but I had paid in for 34 years. 

The stroke was in the same part of my brain, but too deep in, for me to have an operation to put it right. With my boy tablets I am now on apixaban blood thinner. 

November 1st 2014 I started a new job part time as I suffer with fatigue & unable to do many hours befor I must rest. I still work to this day, between 12 & 16 hours per week, which works out well for me. The Coleman hospital in Norwich were a great help to me, getting me to where I am today. 

I could go on & on but I hope this may help someone else. 

Michelle

Hi, here's a few words about how Different Strokes has helped me over the years.

Having a stroke at 28, September 2004, with 3 young children to look after certainly puts the fight in your backbone. I had a left sided occipital infarct with homonymous hemianopia - right sided weakness and loss of my visual field meant I was unable to drive. I had so many questions, thoughts and fears,  I needed to find information.

I found Different Strokes online and logged onto the forum- there wasn't a Facebook page at this time. I remember reading threads from other people and thinking Wow they are going through the same ....

As I went through my stroke journey of adapting to change nappies, appealing against a DLA decision and after 4 years of I found I was able to help others with their worries

I'm still in touch with friends I met all those years ago through different strokes and we've helped each other over the years through o because life goes on regardless.

After 4 years of desperately fighting to get my licence back I eventually was able to drive again. 

I'm still in touch with friends I made those 11 years ago through Different Strokes when I was in need. 

Geoff Render

I had my stroke on 30th September 2015.

I awoke with weird feeling in my arm. I needed to get home from Bridlington to Leeds.  

On the drive my arm and hand stopped use completely. I somehow stopped car but realised I could not use my phone . I tried to stop cars but no one would. I ended up driving 15 miles to nearest village with doctors surgery. 

The gp after checking, not spinal issue, called an ambulance.  I was admitted to York hospital and was laid flat for 24 hrs I was discharged 48 hrs later.  

I am returning to full time work slowly.

Russ

Used to be life and soul of a party - all changed now.

I had my first and only stroke 20 years ago - aged 31 just before xmas - woke up - went to the bathroom - felt rough - collapsed - taken to A&E - paramedics thought I had the flu - woke up I think around 4 days later - didn't know who I was or where I was - totally incapacitated.

Told I had a massive stroke - my mum was seriously ill - my brother died from a brain tumour at the same time - I couldn't get any lower - I wanted to die.

Short term memory now is pathetic - back to work for years now physically almost back to normal - emotionally that's a different story. I didn't consider speaking to anybody - I always thought I was hard - now I'm like a blubbering baby change in my work circumstances now - I need help now - right now.

Off work at the moment - dodgy hip - time to take stock used to work with a great friend - have to work alone now now I want to talk - thankfully - DS is the main part in my life to talk - and I don't get judged - spout away and there's someone there to listen.

On my 2nd marriage - 2 more kids - 1 from previous wife my wife is understanding regarding to my situation but I always feel  that I'm a burden.

I'm  going to seek help for my emotions - should have done that long time ago.

Sam

The story starts on Oct 10th 2015 when I had a heart attack.  

This was following several days of horrendous chest pains. I knew what they meant but I was in denial!  That can't happen to me etc!  I was rushed to MRI Manchester where I had 4 stents fitted.  I found out later that they had to use the defibrillator several times as I had during the angioplasty. I was then transferred to Stepping Hill hospital and went home after 3 days. 

I arrived home at 3pm, went to bed around 11pm and woke at 2am with a completely numb left arm!  We phoned 999 and discovered my speech was slurred, all left side affected, yes it was a stroke.  I was then rushed to Salford Royal where it was confirmed as a right side bleed.  All my left side was affected, no movement etc.  Had the usual scans and after 5 days transferred back to Stepping Hill hospital.  

One thing I have been unable to get any answers to is that I went to my GP 2 weeks previously after suffering from a constant severe headache on right side of my head, he told me to have an eye test!  Also whilst in Cardiac Care 2 fingers on my left hand kept going completely numb (same feeling as my arm during the stroke) and I kept seeing aura lights in my right eye. They dismissed this as migraines which I have never had.  I feel if this had been checked out I may have avoided the stroke!

I had amazing physio at Stepping Hill and they got me walking again.  I had rehab for personal care and came home after 5 weeks.  I am doing ok now but find adapting to my new way of living after being a full time worker, avid biker girl with a very active life!  I worked for DWP for 7+ years and am going through the process of them dismissing me.  ~@This is because I am off Sick and cannot give them a return to work date!  Ironic or what?

I had gained some movement in my left arm but I am now in constant pain because my shoulder dropped after the stroke so I can barely move it now and take constant pain killers, waiting to see a consultant.

I am so glad to have found the Different Strokes facebook group.  I have picked up a lot of advice and ideas.  It has made me feel I am not alone in this and help advice and reassurance is never far away!  Everyone there is very friendly and helpful.

Debbie

On the 2nd January 2013. My husband left for an early day's work and left me resting in bed. I got up to use the bathroom (being 31 weeks pregnant, it wasn't unusual). At that point I felt the worst headache of my life and I knew something was very wrong.

Both of my elder children were at home and I called out to my son who was then 16 that he should call his stepfather urgently to get him home and his sister (14) to stay with Charlie (2) so he didn't hear and panic. As I deteriorated my son called the ambulance.

When my husband arrived at the hospital I was unresponsive having had a major brain bleed,  a subarachnoid haemorrhage which is a type of stroke. He was told I may not survive.

I was 31 weeks pregnant and any surgery would be a major risk to the baby. So Emily was delivered by emergency c-section on the 3rd. A surgery that my husband was told it was unlikely to survive.

I survived the c-section and I was given the opportunity to meet Emily and say my 'goodbyes' to my husband, mother and older children. I then underwent 10 hour brain surgery to 'coil' and 'stent' the ruptured aneurysm which was the cause of the bleeding on the 4th January. On this occasion my husband was told I would need a miracle to survive.

That was actually the EASY bit. I survived the surgery and was left unable to see, speak, walk or swallow. I also had a major left side tremor.

I spent 13 weeks in hospital including a period in ICU. Over time I improved and with support from the neurological physio team once home, I slowly began to walk again. The hardest thing for me was being SO much younger than the other stroke patients in hospital. I found myself getting quite down.

Discovering Different Strokes through Facebook has reassured me that I'm not alone and it's much more common than I realised. The support that I've received from the group has helped so much in the 3 years since. And I'm feeling that I can now offer support to other people.

Ian

An open letter to those dealing with acquired brain injury

It was April 2014, my perceived self was a frantically busy 48-year old Land Rover technician; mountaineering and scenery junkie; ex-martial artist; watercolour painter; eternal student; husband; father; brother; son etc.

I say I was, because I didn't count on an arterial dissection in my spinal cord depriving my brain stem of its vital juice and reconfiguring a different self. So now, because of aphasia, dysarthria, dyspraxia... I appear like a drunken jaywalker; no more Kilimanjaro, stairs are a challenge, but I can manage that other Japanese art, origami.

After intensive care, I heard that word "hope" all too frequently. Just a step up from wishful thinking, to my mind. I ashamedly vocalised my thoughts: "I wished I hadn't survived". I could barely move, see, speak or even swallow my saliva.

Nevertheless, the nightmare became reality, reality begat acceptance, acceptance begat determination...

Five weeks later I made the overwhelming transition from that Pythonesque hospital environment - with a machine that goes "ping" - to the major anxiety of hearth, home and humble-pie. Nothing had changed, apart from everything!

I had never asked for help before, but fortunately it came. The Stroke Association referred me to Conductive Education - learning how to move properly, or training the brain to rewire itself.

The classes have finished but I am still distance learning.

I was still feeling like a patient when I was referred to Momentum Skills. That's when the self discovery journey really began. Things started to make sense, I started to make sense and understand all the WHY's - well some of them. Training in basic/life skills, cognitive sessions. Psycho babble? No! My advice: engage with all of the program. Be honest with and about yourself. No reason to compare with your peers, everyone has their ABI, but it's your journey, so snatch back all that you can and make a new, better self. The more you persevere, the more likely neuro-plasticity will make lasting, new connections.

Acceptance is not something that happens immediately, in fact I am often frustrated by this strange new operating system in my skull, but there is always new stuff to learn, new challenges, hypothetical mountains. But alas, you'll have to let go of "the comfort blanket" of support eventually, so try to accept the mutability of life and rejoice in the coming tomorrows.

So now I am happily busy, not in aesthetic existence, but in instrumental living.

In October 2014 I returned to my studies with the Open University. I was offered a degree in June 2015, but I didn't want to settle for that, so I am continuing for Honours sake. Maybe even a Masters. I recently completed an Award in Education and Training , and NVQ Assessors Award.

I am now working as an Academic Support Worker at the University of Birmingham helping disabled students in post-compulsory education; a voluntary ICT buddy at my local library as well as a voluntary support worker with the Stroke Association.

But remember - cliche alert - no person is an island, you may have survived a brain injury but everyone who is really in your life during and since that time has suffered from your situation. Repay all their love and kindness with self-determination and empathy - you can't do it alone.

You owe it to yourself and others.

Good luck, may the force be with you.