I'm running my first ever half marathon in memory of my Gran who passed away 10 years ago this year.

When I was 9 months old my Dad dropped me off at my Gran's as normal on his way to work, she stood at the door, baby on hip and waved goodbye. That day would be the last time she would be able to stand on her own two feet. My Gran suffered a major stoke that day on the left hand side of her brain. This left her with no movement in the right hand side of her body and also took away her speech.

After sometime in hospital we were lucky enough to bring my Gran home - she needed 24 hour care so family rotas were drawn up. My Gran managed over time to say 'No, Yes & Emma'. Unfortunately due to the lack of movement in my Gran's right leg, gangrene set in. When i was four years old Gran was taken back into hospital, her leg was to be amputated, her chance of survival from this operation was 10%. My Gran was a fighter and proved the doctors wrong. After a year and a half in hospital - we again brought my Gran home. Sadly my Granpa, my Gran's husband of over 50 years passed away of cancer, I can't imagine the grief she went through and couldn't share this with anyone.

When I was thirteen my Gran suffered a second major stroke. This left her paralyzed from the neck down and permanently in hospital. She spent the last three years of her life in ward 24 of Hairmyres. My Gran passed away in October 2003, after an amazing fight she had finally had enough.

My Gran's quality of life during these 16 years was the best we could have possibly have made it, we fed her, we bathed her, we tried to keep as much of her dignity as possible. Birthday's, Easter, Christmas were all spent in hospital wards, even resulting as me receiving a nurses outfit from the nurses at Hairmyres. Although what my Gran suffered was horrendous, she was lucky to have a family around her. Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland's mission is to improve the quality of life for people in Scotland affected by chest, heart and stroke illness. They will provide support when there is no one else to.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read my Gran's story and i hope if you are reading this as a smoker you take a moment to think...do you want your future to be this way.