It’s National Stroke Week (8-14 August 2022) – a week I never fathomed I’d ever have to personally celebrate! But 17 years as a stroke survivor, I see it as a great opportunity to raise stroke awareness, educate everyone and hopefully prevent the condition impacting you or a loved one.
I write in the introduction of my book #reinventing emma
” I’ve been on a challenging yet amazing journey over the past ten years. My life has been turned upside down in ways I could never have imagined. In 2005, at the age of 24, I survived a haemorrhagic stroke and went from being a young, sport-loving, professional woman and full-time therapist, to being a helpless, dependent nonentity. Overnight I became a powerless patient, like the ones I had been caring for. The roller-coaster ride that began with a sore knee has led me on a totally unexpected and unimaginably difficult journey. And yet everything, both good and bad, has shown me, surprisingly, what is possible when you accept life’s challenges”
During National Stroke Week this year, the main focus is in celebrating the precious moments that you or your loved one’s can continue to enjoy during and after your recovery.
I am so fortunate to have had so many opportunities to thoroughly appreciate since my stroke. In fact, my stroke ailments have made me appreciate my past memories and incorporating things I enjoy into my life now makes everything easier to withstand. Being grateful is my daily medicine.
Help others to keep enjoying precious moments too by sharing the F.A.S.T. (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) signs of stroke message with your family and friends.
- F = Face Drooping: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven?
- A = Arm Weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
- S = Speech Difficulty: Is speech slurred?
- T = Time to call Triple Zero (000) if you see any of these signs.
You can download some resources here