Gavin’s story sheds light on the challenges faced by young stroke survivors and the importance of resilience in the face of adversity. Through determination, energy, and focus, Gavin has not only overcome the hurdles of stroke recovery but has also emerged stronger and more empowered than ever before.
It’s affected my moods; that would be the big thing. I still have panic attacks, like it’s going to happen again, which brings me down some days as I feel like I’m on a knife edge, but it’s changed my whole perspective in life and how I look at things!
I had the MRI a few hours later and sure enough three stroke consultants pulled me and my dad into a room and told me I’d had a stroke. I burst into tears and asked if I was going to die. “Please don’t let me die, I have a 2 year old and she needs me.” I said and the consultant said I wouldn’t die, but that I would need to be admitted to the stroke ward for some further tests.
I’m not a stroke victim, I’m a stroke survivor and as many people know there are often multiple factors to stroke, but I believe this builds on me as a person. These events led me to reflection. I handed in my notice and quit my job, knowing my job wasn’t good for my health. I have a family to support, and my health is much more important than anything!
I would recommend counselling and also speaking to others who’ve suffered physical weakness after a stroke or any disability. It was definitely helpful for me to open up and understand my pain. This enabled me to move forward with my life.
I have no memory of arriving in hospital or what happened over the next few days. My next memory was waking up, in hospital and being told I’d had brain surgery!
My future is today. I am planning to live with purpose. I have always had a purpose professionally and personally so that has not changed, but it has become much clearer for me.
Being a singer and the musical director of my band is the once place where I feel I have control over my environment. My band is a safe place where I can make make choices; over my body over my life – and having an outlet to express and process my emotions is my saviour. If you’re a survivor too I hope you are as lucky as me to find something like this that you use to help you love the life for of your own. Recovery can be hard and I hope you too make the most of yours.
The frustration grew and grew, it took concentration the like I have never known. It seemed to take an eternity but suddenly there it was a small movement in my fingers; the tiniest of movements but it was a step forward
“Always a little further” I thought -and if I can do this every day, and a little further, I will get there. I can fix this I thought. I will not be beaten by this.
