Karen Morgan

In 2003, aged 41, I was a busy lady with a hectic life with my partner and a working as a supervisor in a busy call Centre for Churchill Insurance. I enjoyed walking, badminton and socialising. Then disaster struck - I woke up in hospital attached to monitors and tubes. I couldn't speak, had to be tube fed and couldn't move the left side of my body. I had become one of the increasing number of younger people who had suffered a major stroke. I knew what I wanted to say but had no way of expressing myself- it was so frustrating! I was in rehabilitation in Dr Shakespeare's unit in Preston for two years but made little progress.

I came to live at Cuerden Hall in 2005. I could barely say 'yes' and 'no', was still being tube fed and the future seemed very bleak. I was very depressed and thought that my life was over. I was very independent before and hated the fact that I could do hardly anything for myself.

Ten years later, I could actually walk!  My speech had returned after a lot of hard work, but I still suffer from aphasia (words get muddled up in my head) which sometimes makes it difficult for strangers to understand me. 

I have a social life again, I enjoy going out for meals with friends and I enjoy going to musicals. Photography is one of my main pastimes and I enjoy using computers and social media.

In March 2016, I finally moved out of Cuerden Hall into my own apartment at The Grange, in Buckshaw Village. I’m really enjoying being independent again after so long relying on other people. I take full advantage of the activities here which are on offer seven days a week, I particularly enjoy playing on the Wii and carpet bowls. It’s also great to know that when I want to be quiet I can shut my door and no-one will disturb me unless I want them to. 

Di Summer

Di Summer's partner Andy had a stroke in 2002, here she share's how she is using this experience to help other families affected by stroke in Portsmouth.

"After my partner Andy Long had his stroke in 2002, when he came out of hospital in 2003 I started making enquiries locally for any support groups for younger survivors, but this took some while as there was precious little information out there all those years ago. Eventually I located a small DS group in Portsmouth, just 4 people who used to meet in a pub once a month purely for a chat.

I started volunteering for DS when the above group looked like it was going to fold, because the young girl who ran it was moving out of the area and no one else wanted the responsibility for running the group. This was in 2004.

My volunteering role is Regional Co-ordinator and Secretary. I was actively involved in arranging activities for the group other than just meeting socially once a month. With a lot of hard work we were able to establish 2 weekly swimming sessions, a weekly seated chair exercise session, one to one gym sessions, all undertaken with fully qualified disability instructors.

In the beginning it was just me who got a level one qualification which enabled me to take a seated chair class, so we have come on leaps and bounds since those early days! I also have a close association with the stroke rehab ward at our local hospital and once survivors are coming up for discharge, I go along with Andy to meet them and their families to let them know that support is out there and they're not alone.

I also do some home visits for survivors who are a little nervous about coming along to the sessions, to try and make them and their relatives feel comfortable and relaxed about what tremendous support they can expect from the instructors and other group members. We also have a close liaison with our Community Stroke Rehab team and neuro physios who also refer survivors to me, alongside the Stroke Association in Portsmouth who work very closely with me. I am also involved in attending appeals and tribunals for PIP assessments.

What I like about volunteering for DS is the relief on the stroke survivors faces that there is so much help out there. I know first hand what it was like to have one's world turned upside down and having no one to turn to. Over the years thankfully this has all changed and it can only get even better. I feel I've made a difference to stroke survivors and their families in Portsmouth and surrounding areas and it has also had a huge impact of mine and Andy's life. It is something I am passionate about and I truly hope I can continue in my role for many years to come."