Our patron Megan Giglia took part in our abseil in September, we used this as an opportunity to sit down to discuss the effects of her stroke including false memories, neuro-fatigue and epilepsy. Megan Giglia had a Stroke 6 years ago aged just 27, she shares with us how a conversation with a [...]

Alistair has had multiple strokes starting when he was just 11 years old. Alistair has also survived leukaemia and lives with multiple health issues. In September he took part in our charity abseil raising over £2,000 to help us to support other families affected by stroke. We are so inspired by Al, his [...]

Emma's daughter Bailey survived a stroke 12 years ago aged just 3 years old. This is Emma's story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FXEmG2CsJs&t=0s We recognise that the Different Strokes community of younger stroke survivors and family members are the experts in stroke recovery and rehabilitation with first-hand knowledge of the issues and challenges facing families after stroke.  Different Strokes [...]

Before my stroke I worked in various pubs and clubs in my local area.  I began to have seizures in my sleep, but the hospital kept on sending me home saying I was sleepwalking.  But on one visit and by chance a neurologist came to see someone else while I was there, and the hospital [...]

  Bailey survived a stroke 12 years ago aged just 3 years old.  This is Bailey'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 [...]

It’s the eve of my first Stroke Anniversary and I am sitting here with mixed feelings, so here’s just a few thoughts on my anniversary Much has happened in the past 12 months and much of it seems both a life time away and yet some days it’s still such a struggle. Recovery from a [...]

Where do l begin?  In 2006 I was a busy mum, working full time with a thirteen-year-old daughter and a eight year old son.  l worked for the Community Nursing Service and had an active busy life with no health concerns and thought of myself as fit and well, running around in my spare time [...]

'No triumph, no tragedy', goes the title of Peter White's excellent R4 show about disability. I remember being struck by the phrase the first time I heard it.  You'll never know what success is unless you first know disaster, it suggested, 'Rudyard Kipling-like'.  But show me the person who says they knew that before they lived it and I'll show you the naivety of the not-yet disabled. You've got to pay for triumph before you can have it, and the 'currency du jour' [...]

On the 21 July 2018 at around 9.10am I suffered what was diagnosed as a very minor stroke.  Whilst it was minor it was still classed and treated as any other Cerebrovascular accident. As a Saturday morning it was the same as any other; getting ready for Park Run (Catton Park in Norwich) drinking water [...]

Each moment is precious, and it is never too often to let those close to us know how much we love them  Background On the evening of Friday October 29, 2015, I returned home from a meeting and typed up my notes. Whilst doing this I noticed a tingling sensation in my thumb, which disappeared. [...]

In October 2017, aged 30, I suffered a Cerebellum Stroke.  I was in my kitchen playing with my new born son when I had what felt like a "head-rush".  I started feeling really dizzy and grabbed the counter-top to try and steady myself, but after 10 seconds it did not go away and I lowered [...]

Hello.  I’m Al and I’m 43 years old. When I was 9 years old I had Leukaemia.  The long term side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment have left me with multiple comorbidities. One of these is radiation induced vasculopathy meaning that I have damaged blood vessels in my head and hence a greater propensity [...]

It's Saturday night, hot as every day this summer, and I've been to the cinema with my family.  We are laughing about the film.  I have a glass of white wine in my hand.  I'm relaxed and happy. July has been a busy month.  I work in a small team supporting schools and working with [...]

My name is Haylie Dunne and I am 26.  I had brain haemorrhage aged just 18 and I then went on to have a mini-stroke five years ago aged 21. Before any of this my life was perfect.  I was at college studying 3D design, I had loads of friends and loved going to music [...]

To understand me and the changes to mine and my family’s lives you would have to know that before the brain haemorrhage, stroke and children I was a solicitor.  I worked at a big law firm and there is even a photo of me with Cherie Blair at a reception at the House of Lords [...]

It’s not just the person who has had the stroke who is ‘the survivor' it's you as well, the wife, brother, mother, girlfriend, partner, father, friend.  We are all survivors. In July 2010 Eddie and I had a happy and comfortable life and lifestyle.  I was an Independent Reviewing Officer in child and family social [...]

Alex Murphy is a pro ice skater, who has appeared on Dancing On Ice in the UK and in the Netherlands. Alex had a stroke 5 years ago whilst performing on a cruise ship aged just 24. Here we sit down and talk recovery, guilt and life after stroke. For more information on [...]

I was taken into the accident and emergency wing of the hospital on 17 March 2015, with a life-threatening subarachnoid haemorrhage.  I was only 38 years old and had always been a healthy person.  I was successful, career-oriented and travelled the world while working too many hours, with no time to relax and think.  Then, [...]

My stroke was in February 2011 on a plane returning from Australia.  It was the middle of the night and I needed the loo so off I went.  When I’d finished I stood up and I had a strange feeling come over me I thought it was just jet lag, but as I walked back [...]

My stroke was on the 16 September 2012; I was 17 and in sixth form at my local school.  I was studying for my A Levels and at the time I wanted to be a veterinary nurse, which was my main interest. Life was pretty ordinary; I went to school in the day, worked in [...]