On 17th February 2017, I suffered a massive brain haemorrhage in the shape of a pontine stroke. 999 and emergency surgery, 4 hospitals later including rehab I returned home in 2019 with huge gratitude and thanks to the NHS. 

 

Along the journey a speech and language therapist told me that she tried to do some research on the type of stroke I had, found a paucity as so few live to tell the tale - that was chilling. 

 

The clarion call is that all strokes are different. For a truism look no further than the LBC's Andrew Marr. He has endured a lame arm and hand whilst mine moves. I on the other hand (excuse pun) suffered severe facial palsy which has taken 3 ops to try to correct and would not make for good broadcasting not that pre-stroke I would have been any good at it.

 

A bit of a theme running through both hospital and now carers at home is my determination. Personally I cannot see it myself but my family attribute it to it being hard wired into my DNA and a strong desire to participate in the real world we inhabit.

 

Having travelled this journey from operating table to home I would be pleased to mentor or share this journey with other similar minded souls without cost so do please contact me.