Lubna’s Story – Ischaemic Stroke at 31

My name is Lubna, and in 2021, my life changed in a way I could never have anticipated. I was a thriving HR professional, passionate about my work, and dedicated to staying fit. On what seemed like an ordinary day at the gym, everything turned upside down.

I was finishing my usual core workout on the floor when, as I tried to stand, my body betrayed me. I struggled for thirty minutes, convinced it was nothing serious – a stroke? It never crossed my mind. Even as my legs felt heavier and my vision blurred, I refused to ask for help. I thought I could push through it, like I always had. But after forty minutes of agony and slurred speech that I could barely get out, I finally called for help.

A woman at the gym noticed me, and in an instant, she knew I was having a stroke. Her quick thinking and determination saved my life. She called the ambulance and even chased it up when they were delayed. I’ll forever be grateful to her for her efficiency and empathy in that crucial moment.

When I arrived at the hospital, the reality of the situation hit me hard. Due to short staffing and the COVID pandemic, I didn’t receive the physiotherapy I desperately needed. I lay in bed for four months; motionless, stiff, and deteriorating. By the fifth month, I had lost most of the potential for recovery. The doctors and physiotherapists were blunt. They told me to give up on the idea of returning to how I was and to accept my new reality.

When I was finally discharged, the neglect continued. The physiotherapy team handed me a few sheets of paper with exercises to do at home and sent me on my way. Alone and overwhelmed, I sought help in Turkey, but even there, the therapists were discouraging. They told me I had come too late, and I felt those words like a dagger in my heart.

When I returned to England, my spirit was broken. Hopelessness consumed me. I gave up on trying. I stayed in bed for weeks at a time, too ashamed and defeated to face the world. I couldn’t see a way forward until I met someone who refused to let me stay in that dark place.

Her name was Vijay. She became my rock when I had no strength left. Even on my worst days, she believed in me when I couldn’t believe in myself. Vijay introduced me to Dr. Steven, who became a beacon of hope. I travelled to India for four months, and for the first time, I felt a glimmer of possibility. The therapy I received there was intense, and the environment itself healed parts of me I thought were gone forever—mentally, emotionally, and physically.

When I returned to England, I didn’t stop. Vijay encouraged me to start yoga and Ayurvedic treatments, which transformed my body and spirit. Slowly, I began to rebuild my life. I started stepping outside again, reconnecting with the world I had shut out for so long.

A friend suggested I try working a few hours at an estate agency, and even though I was terrified, I gave it a shot. Those few hours turned into part-time work, then full-time, and now I’m back to a place I was told I’d never see again.

Today, I work full-time in an office doing admin work, and I’ve found joy in giving back to my community. The same people who once told me I’d never recover would hardly recognise me now.

My journey hasn’t been easy, but it’s taught me that hope, even when it feels impossible, can move mountains. I’ve learned that the right people—angels like Vijay—can reignite the fire you thought had burned out forever. I’ve come to realize that setbacks don’t define us. What defines us is the fight we put up, even when the world says it’s over.

I was told to accept defeat. Instead, I chose to rewrite my story.

Your donation helps others like Lubna 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.

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