Yvonne Kent Pateras

I had lived my life as a fearless, full-of-energy, optimistic person, with high initiative, often in excess (as I had been told), perhaps a bit careless, bold to the point of ignoring danger. Well, I was born a Sagittarius and, in the Chinese zodiac, a horse, for those who believe in or blame the stars for their personality. I do not know if I had a hobby. Judging from what I did in my free time I was a bookworm – reading, reading, reading!

Then, like lightning, on the evening of March 26 2012, the massive haemorrhagic stroke hit me, leaving me unable to speak or move. After four months in hospital, to everyone’s surprise, with immense courage and effort, I was able to speak well and walk. Unexpectedly though, three ischaemic stroke and another haemorrhagic one followed, between then and May 2013. Treatment was complicated as the two forms of stroke require contrasting medication. Endless effort and persistence rewarded me with perfect walk. Only a light speech impediment and a right hand that it not fully functioning are the scars now.

Why poetry? Following a stroke, I went through a spell of re-learning, like being born again. Feelings were overpowering my concentration and understanding. Verses facilitated expression of my feelings. Coming up with a book of poems and publishing it gave me upmost satisfaction, particularly as the response from stroke survivors was so moving. I had written verses before and shall continue to; poetry takes the weight off my legs and gives me wings.

1 of 3 poems is included below. To get the other 2 poems log onto:

https://uk.pinterest.com/diffstrokes/poems/

Fighting Aphasia

I tried to think of a word today

And I could not.

The fog had descended in my head,

It would not allow any words to slip through.

It was dense and impregnable,

Not even the light could penetrate

Through this dark.

cloying acquiescence.

Words elude,

Not a word of anger.

Not a word of humour or desire.

Not a word of love or hate.

Nothing what would resemble

The beginning of a word,

To allow a sentence to be molded.

Like clay into something desired,

Anything!

I feel soulless,

Morally bankrupt.

The keeper of a million words,

That was me.

Now I can’t think of a mono syllable –

Cruel destiny.

Stuart Provan

I was just about to turn 33 when I had my stroke. My wife had just left me and I had to move back into my parents house, leaving mine and my children's home and watching everything I had built up over 10 years being thrown in a van as rubbish.

I had been suffering severe headaches for months with stroke like symptoms and was continually told it was migraine, although I am unsure if this was caused by ex wife stating it was just migraines. I had been misdiagnosed for months, if not years, following episodes 5 years previously, shortly after getting married and the birth of my daughter. At this time a thrombus was discovered on my heart to which I was treated with warfarin. The stroke like episodes quite obviously stopped, but after 12 months or so off the warfarin gradually started to re-occur. I became extremely worried and couldn't talk to my wife as she kept closing me down stating it was stress or depression. So I hid my collapses and weakness. It wasn't until I lost consciousness at my parents and mom had to call 999, that I realised how serious these headaches potentially were.

A couple of weeks passed and mom and dad started to feel more confident about me being on my own, so I took our dog for a walk. They returned to find me being carted off in an ambulance having collapsed and fallen down stairs. Luckily I managed to call 999 and slur that I had no feeling in my left hand side. After what I thought was going to be another wasted trip, I eventually was told unfortunately I had a stroke and it appeared I had several others in the past. After several days in, it was felt due to my emotional liability it would be better if I went home.

I had no visit from my wife or children, even though she worked on the ward I was situated. Two days after my release I received the paperwork from her solicitor telling me she was divorcing me. I fought my arse off to try and get as well as possible to return to work so I could make payments for CSA, etc. I was back for 2 weeks, still under my phased return, when all staff were called into a meeting to be told we were potentially going to be made redundant. As it got closer to the redundancy date we were being given no information. So I was forced to find alternative employment, who wanted me to start prior to my official end date.

Having then worked at this company in a far lower skilled job for several weeks I had a complete breakdown. My brain just stopped working. I couldn't concentrate, I didn't know where I was or why I was there. It was the scariest moment of my life. I thought I was better until this point. It's not a race, it's a slow steady recovery from a stroke, something I learnt the hard way several times. I had very little help other than from my parents. It's coming to 12 months now since my stroke and I'm still not 100%, but I am not in a wheelchair like I was at one point just to get me out. I no longer walk using a stick and my dexterity in my hand is getting better all the time, although I still have bad days. My cognitive issues aren't apparent to most people, so I have become one of the hidden people with disabilities.

Lydia Galvin

Hi, I'm 34 I have 2 boys 9 & 13 and I thought strokes were for older people. I'm fairly active have had several surgeries but recovered from them. I am a qualified body piercer and on 27 November 2016 had walked the dogs, had Sunday lunch and spent time with my family ...then at 8.45pm I was on the phone to my 9 year old son and I suddenly just couldn't hold the phone. I thought my partner was winding me up, then I couldn't talk or move my left hand. I was shouting and screaming in my head but only slurred words and nonsense came out. My partner immediately knew what was wrong and the TV advert FAST meant he knew what to do - he rang 999 and managed to get me into hospital and saved my life!

Thanks to Hereford Hospital being so quick I am alive. I had a large hyperdense blood clot in my middle cerebral artery which caused a massive stroke. I spent 2 weeks in hospital and they dispersed the blood clot  and they also found a hole in my heart which I learned was a PFO. I'm now receiving physiotherapy, the community stroke team are visiting me and I'm trying to move on. I've been left with left sided weakness so I can't currently use my left hand or walk outside unaided. I find the cognitive issues worse - aphasia, I cannot remember things, find it very hard to concentrate, neuro fatigue plagues my life and I'm seriously low in mood.

With the help of the stroke team, Different Strokes and Facebook forums I've found others like me. Strokes can affect anyone! I didn't drink and I didn't have high blood pressure which all proves strokes can happen to anyone !!! Know the signs! The neuro team in Hereford are now responsible for my care and we are awaiting the cardiac team to decide whether to close the hole in my heart. It's amazing that all this has happened in 4 months! Please educate your family and loved ones to know the signs. The speed my partner got me into hospital is the reason I am alive today. It's weird to know I could have easily died that day. I am now under several teams to help me get better and move forward with my recovery.  It's a long road ahead but with help of my partner Phil and the Hereford community team I'll get there!