“I am a two-time stroke survivor. I had my first when I was 12 in 2012 and my second when I was 15. Both happened in my childhood home in Leicester and my life was turned upside down.
This upheaval was due to my own misconceptions about strokes. As a young, vibrant 12-year-old, I thought they only affected older people, but I was clearly wrong.
Life before my stroke was exciting. I was due to attend a school trip to France with my friends and I was giddy. But after the stroke happened, I was advised to stay home by the doctors. The upheaval was becoming more forceful.
My first stroke happened while I was sleeping. I remember waking up one night with an intense headache. My first thought was to go to my parents’ room to let them know that I wasn’t feeling well, but when I tried to move, I couldn’t. My arms and legs wouldn’t co-ordinate with my brain.
I tried to shout for my parents, but no words escaped my mouth. It felt like a nightmare. My only option was to scream, hoping that would alert their attention.
My father came rushing into my room after my scream and asked what was wrong. When I couldn’t speak he immediately called for an ambulance and I began to cry out of fear and confusion.
I was rushed to Leicester Royal Infirmary’s A&E department. I remember being wheeled in, but not much else — the whole night still remains a blur. The doctors conducted a CT scan and found a clot in my brain. Emergency medication was administered and I recovered extremely well from the first stroke.
In between the first and second strokes, I had many Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs). I was medicated with one aspirin a day. I felt like this wasn’t enough protection after such a traumatic event, so I asked the doctors to put me on a stronger medicine called warfarin, but they refused, claiming warfarin was too potent for a child of 12.
Then in 2015, I had a second stroke.
The second one had a more forceful impact on my life. The lead-up was the same, but I delayed alerting my dad because I thought it was a TIA. After realising that it wasn’t transient I gestured to my dad to call 999. This has become a universal unspoken language in my home – if I make a call sign with my fingers helped up like a phone near to my ear, it means to call the emergency services.
The second stroke was on the left side of my brain and left me devastated as I lost my ability to speak and write. The events were the same – wheeled into A&E, and another scan and another stroke was confirmed. I was also diagnosed with Anti-Phospholipid Syndrome (APS) while I was in the hospital. APS is an autoimmune condition that results in my blood clotting at a faster rate than the usual person.
Recovery from this stroke was immensely difficult, mostly because if the doctors had listened to my suggestion of putting me on warfarin I may not have had to suffer the TIAs and second stroke.
After the second stroke, I was put on warfarin, three years after my initial plea. This was three years too late in my eyes.
I didn’t let the strokes hold me back. I took my GCSEs at 16 on a laptop. I began training my hand to write again, and now despite my aphasia, I am talking as much as I used to.
Don’t let anything define you. My strokes are a big part of my life, but I am also a lot more than my health.
My father introduced me to Different Strokes, after hearing about it at work. He brought home pamphlets about the organisation’s work. I read each one, cover to cover, and found them to be extremely useful. I got in touch with Different Strokes to see if there was anything I could to help the incredibly valuable organisation. Now I am a volunteer content writer for the charity.
I’m to start a new job in the new year. I have big plans for my life and I hope I get to achieve each one. Currently, I’m 22, I’ve graduated with a first-class degree in journalism and I hope I can show Different Strokes readers that support is available and that a stroke doesn’t have to hold you back:
If you’ve recently had a stroke, I would advise that you rest. When you’re young I understand that you want to go out and do things to be active. But having a stroke is not a minor event. Rest, recuperate and focus on your recovery. Also, reach out to Different Strokes. Having a stroke young can feel like an isolating event, but remember you are never alone. There is always someone to talk to.”
There are 100,000 strokes in the UK each year with 1 in 4 happening to somebody of working age or younger. Different Strokes aims to promote independent stroke recovery and help these younger stroke survivors reclaim their lives.
Different Strokes is delighted to announce the return of its Glasgow Peer Support Group, providing a welcoming space for working-age stroke survivors, their families and
On Saturday 18th July, over 100 people gathered in Northamptonshire to mark 30 years of Different Strokes. Reclaiming Life After Stroke The day opened with
Free Webinar | Wednesday 22 July | 11:00am When someone you love has a stroke, life can change in an instant. Partners, spouses and family
During June we hosted a Community Event in London at the offices of Bolt Burdon Kemp.
Different Strokes is pleased to be partnering with specialist medical negligence law firm Fletcher’s Solicitors to offer a free online webinar for stroke survivors, families and carers.
Mike Caines Wins Different Strokes’ Outstanding Contribution Award 2026 For the past 14 years, Mike Caines has been a quiet constant behind Different Strokes. He
