Cathy’s Story – Ischaemic Stroke at 26
- Greg Hollingworth
One moment, I was soaking up the sun and sights on my 27th birthday holiday in Turkey; the next, my world was irrevocably altered. A wave of dizziness and weakness washed over me, and suddenly, I couldn’t walk.
At 26, a stroke wasn’t on my radar, especially not while celebrating life in a beautiful hotel, cocktails in hand. That afternoon, after hours of sunbathing, a splitting headache hit me like a ton of bricks. I brushed it off as a migraine, trying to sleep it away. But as I walked over a bridge to dinner that evening, my legs gave way. Panic seized me as I told my friend,
‘I can’t walk – I’m not joking, I really can’t walk!’
What followed was a blur of a wheelchair, a plant pot doubling as a sick bucket, and a mortifying trip through the hotel lobby, with everyone staring. In my room, as I lay helpless, the receptionist dismissed it as too much alcohol. I often wonder if early intervention then could have changed everything.
The night escalated with me dragging myself to the bathroom floor, my friend frantically calling for help. Soon, four men arrived, and I was rushed to a Turkish hospital, spending four weeks in intensive care before being repatriated to a hospital in England.
Being hospitalised in a foreign country, surrounded by people speaking an unfamiliar language, is a truly isolating and distressing experience.
The following months were a gruelling journey of relearning everything—walking, talking, living. My stroke had stolen so much, but I found solace in a Different Strokes Facebook group, where I connected with others who understood my struggles. Therapy became my lifeline, helping me navigate the big changes I was going through.
Though I’m not the person I once was, I’m immensely grateful for how far I’ve come. From lying motionless in a hospital bed, surrounded by elderly patients, to now walking around the block, I’ve made strides.
During my hospital stay, even the simplest tasks like washing myself were impossible. It was incredibly demoralising to rely on others for such basic personal care. Now, being able to bathe independently feels like a significant victory; a true testament to my recovery.
I am also dealing with foreign accent syndrome as well as dysarthria. To speak and not even sound like yourself is something unexplainable. This I’m still struggling with; as my physical side improves, I’m still left with a voice that doesn’t sound like mine. Like many others, I experience emotional lability —one moment I’m fine, then hysterically crying, and a minute later I’m fine again. This is another hurdle I’m working on; I can’t control my emotions, and it’s so strange to deal with. I have also been left with left-sided hemiplegia.
Learning to walk again, to stay balanced, and to not drop everything I touch is a daily struggle. I still experience eye drooping, which I’m coming to terms with, doing my daily exercises each day in hopes it will improve. If you’re facing a similar battle, know that you’re not alone. Find a support system, embrace therapy, and celebrate every small victory.
Your donation helps others like Cathy on their journeys
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.
Make a smile lottery is a weekly fundraising lottery. A fun and exciting way to help Different Strokes raise vital funds that will secure our future.
It only costs £1 per play, and you can choose to play every week or whenever you feel like taking a chance and doing something good. For more information click here.
