Beth Boella survived a stroke 8 months ago aged just 23. This is Beth's survivor story. Different Strokes is run by younger stroke survivors for younger stroke survivors. We have personal experience of the realities of life after stroke. We recognise that the Different Strokes community of younger stroke survivors and family members [...]

Belinda Medlock survived a stroke 3 years ago aged just 47. This is Belinda's survivor story. Different Strokes is run by younger stroke survivors for younger stroke survivors. We have personal experience of the realities of life after stroke. We recognise that the Different Strokes community of younger stroke survivors and family members [...]

I survived my stroke at 32.  Before the Stroke I was an energetic mother of two boys and was also in full-time employment as a Business Analyst. A couple of weeks after my birthday in April I started having throbbing headaches constantly, although I took painkillers.  The migraines got stronger and although I was in [...]

I am Anna – a 30 year old who was fit and healthy and worked as a children's nurse. I am outgoing and have a busy lifestyle with my little boy and family. I love to meet up with friends, trying new places and just loved to be on the go! I took my little [...]

I turned 40 and felt fitter and healthier than ever before.  Everything in my life had fallen into place – I was happily married with three amazing children and had a job that I love.  Things were going great until I had the biggest shock of my life. Three weeks after my fortieth birthday, in [...]

My Journey So Far In August 2003 life was great.  I had a good career and loved my work, I had a loving family and many friends.  I had just celebrated my 50th birthday, I was fit and well, busy and full of energy. I collapsed while on my way to work one bright sunny [...]

2013: “I’m excited to have the opportunity to thank Different Strokes for giving me something more useful to do with my time than I thought I’d ever be doing.  Whilst I’ve had the pleasure of speaking to many people who’ve rung the helpline. I’m sure there are many who are unaware of why I volunteered [...]

Before my stroke I was a full time working mum to Charles 19 years and Ed 13 years.  I was out each morning at 7.45am to travel to Leamington Spa, and mum’s taxi for rugby, cricket, football and after school clubs.  Charles was due to start University in September 2010, so we had done the [...]

For me it all started with ear ache or I should say pain in my neck around my ear and sinus pain along with nausea and high blood pressure.  For several weeks I visited my GP surgery. Many doctors missed the signs.  I was diagnosed with an ear infection even though they said they couldn't [...]

In December 2017 I stopped at the post office on the way home from work and as I went to get out of the car I suddenly found myself feeling very dizzy.  I had double vision and also became very hot and felt increasingly sick.  This feeling lasted for around 5 minutes and I somehow [...]

"My name is Ashley, I'm 24 years old and seven years ago whilst on a driving lesson I had a stroke.  I had just turned 17 and was excited to get started with driving, but at the same time I remember getting extremely nervous and stressed before each lesson.  When it happened I was actually driving the [...]

"I was 23 and I had just graduated from University and was looking forward to celebrating throughout the summer. I was at a music festival with a big group of friends, a couple of days in I started to feel ill and  I felt the need to take a nap on one of my friends [...]

"My name is Bailey and I am 15 years old; when I was three years old I had a stroke. Let’s jump back to 2005, I was just three and my Mum and Dad had just got married. Two weeks after they got married we went on their honemoon which doubled as a family holiday, [...]

"I’m Abbie, I’m 28, and while I was recovering in hospital I decided to write my story so that I could look back and know I got through it.  I always read other people’s experiences hoping to find someone’s just like mine.  So, I hope now this can help someone else get through another day [...]

"I had my stroke in September 2012 when I was just 20 and due to be returning to university a few weeks later.  It started very slowly and all I remember was having a horrendous one-sided headache and was occasionally sick when I stood up.  My mum is a nurse and was concerned but over [...]

I’m Sue and my story begins in 2005 on a cold November Friday morning.  Everything was as normal except I woke up with a slight ear ache which I put down to an impending cold.  Working in the offices at a secondary school there are always colds and viruses knocking around.  I left the house to [...]

"When I was 14 when I had my first stroke.  After playing rugby league, I tore an artery in my neck, which caused a Basiler artery stroke.  A week later I had a second stroke, this time on my cerebellum. I woke in the night feeling dizzy and sick.  I thought I would be ok, [...]

It was the start of a much needed Easter break after a hectic term teaching science in a local secondary school. I had been for a short run (5km) and was looking forward to a chilled day before a week of horse riding and gearing up for a half marathon in a months time. All [...]

After four years of trying to have a baby, in 2015 we found out that we were finally pregnant - with twins no less! We welcomed Clark and Dudley into the world in March 2016.  We noticed at 5 months old that Clark wasn't opening or using his right hand.  Our doctors vaguely mentioned “developmental [...]

"My name is Sarah and I’m 40 years old. Before the stroke I was a HR Team Manager.  I was working on a high-profile project and I had just moved to a new house. I had been with my fiancé for 18 months.  Life was great. On Thursday 20th October 2011 at approximately 5pm, I [...]