You don't know you're having a stroke, but you know that something is wrong. You're not sure what it is, but you feel nauseous. All night you've felt it and you don't feel comfortable. You collapse into a heap on the floor. Your 21 year-old son puts you into the recovery position and you hear him tell his mum you're going to be alright. He doesn't know for sure, but he tells her, anyway. He calls for an ambulance. It's a long drive to Leicester. Another five minutes and you'd have been on your own. You're still awake when you get to Leicester, but it's not long before you pass out.
Then they call all the people that matter to you and tell them they will know more about your condition in the morning. If you survive, that is. Come the morning and does Mandy want to turn off the life support?No...she doesn't. We have some agonizing moments together. So bad was the stroke that i have to stay in hospital for the next nine months. I saw Mandy (now, the wife) once a week from then on In hospital, i busied myself at gardening. More often than not i attended music class. We couldn't play any instruments, but we could watch youtube.
Having a stroke was painless for me, but i was out of it. I don't remember much about anything really. It's all a big dream to me. Now, i'm conscious. I've got a brain injury to go with the fact that i've lost my ability to walk. Not all stroke sufferers are so badly off, but i am. I wouldn't wish this injury on anyone. Others will follow me and realise the enormous task i had to face. They wouldn't look look fo the (4.5 years now) challenges that await them. It has been tough. There's no doubting that. But it has made me a better person, i think, and more prepared to deal with the situations that happen.
So, if you see someone in danger of the symptoms of having a stroke. Please act fast. You could potentially save a life. You could make a difference to their life if they don't die. The worst that can happen is if a stroke victim is left alone which nearly happened to me. Nobody knows what's going to happen in the future, but you improve your chances of avoiding a stroke if you ;
a) stop smoking.
b) give up salt.
c) see your doctor about getting a blood pressure test.
