Clive's stroke story of change
"In 2015, I had a stroke with no warning and no known cause. There was no real hospital discharge and what to expect for the future. It soon became apparent that recovery would be a long, hard road.
With Christmas approaching, being in a dark place consumed me. I felt helpless and didn't know where to turn for support. As I know personally, asking for help is the hardest thing to do.
By calling StrokeLine and connecting with others - I found support, guidance and meaning. This ignited in me a hope that I could make a positive difference for other survivors of stroke, and I am now a mental health advocate. I am also living independently and am back driving. I'm remaining positive about the future and even making plans for a new business."
Dee's story
"The only words I could wrangle together were, ‘Is she going to die?’ I couldn’t face the possibility of losing our daughter. I thought only older people had strokes, not babies in utero.
Through Stroke Foundation I found another mum and together we co-founded Little Stroke Warriors – a community that makes it easier to navigate challenges and celebrate our children.
There’s so much more to do for paediatric stroke, and I’ll keep advocating until every child has equitable opportunities to thrive."
Tahnee's story
"With my newborn baby in my arms, I looked at my husband and screamed for help; I felt like I was going to die. I wanted to be a mum, not a patient.
Scans revealed I had suffered five mini-strokes and had a rare condition called RCVS. Life as I knew it was gone. But reading other people’s stories who had a stroke when they were young gave me hope and made me feel less alone.
I still have debilitating migraines, balance issues, fatigue, and paralysis episodes – but I’m still here, and I need to tell my story for those who can’t."