Tracy Smith

I'm taking part in the Swim for Stroke challenge!

I joined #TeamStroke for Swim for Stroke.

12 months ago 15th August 2022 my life changed literary over night.  I woke up in the morning thinking I had slept funny on my left arm. Over time it didn’t change and was found on the bathroom floor by my boyfriend  no speaking properly or able to stand.  My dad and grandad had strokes and something told me to tell him to ask me to smile and he said I didn’t look right. Once at the hospital they wasn’t sure if I had as my age was against it. After tests it was confirmed I’d had a stroke on my right side couple days passed and still could feel my whole left side. Over time after a lot of comings and goings I found I was unable to read write and still unable to walk properly. 

About 1 week later I was speaking to my mum when she told me to pass my phone to a nurse??? I found out I had another stroke this time still on the right but this was bigger😥, I couldn’t speak and lost around a week as don’t remember anything. I was in hospital for 8 long weeks. 

I have found with the help of the doctors, nurses and stroke rehabilitation team I could get home and understand that I’m not the same person that was very independent as I was before. 

Once I got home we got in contact with the stroke association and found it was a lady we had talked to before as my mum had dealt with her when my dad had his strokes. They have been there visiting me and mum in person or on the phone. They are a great help. 

Stroke Association is here to support people to rebuild their lives after stroke. We believe everyone deserves to live the best life they can after stroke, so we work with the stroke community to make sure people affected by stroke get the very best care and support. We rely on your support to provide vital services, campaign for better stroke care and fund research into preventative and rehabilitative treatments.