Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

 

I’m sure you all know me If you don’t i am Michelle Wilkinson an independent single mum of five brilliant children.

In August 2013 my life was forced to change when an MRI scan found an Aneurysm on my brain.

Brain aneurysms can be treated using surgery if they have burst or if there is a risk that they will.

However, preventative surgery is usually only recommended if it's thought the risk of a rupture is significant. This is because surgery has its own risk of potentially serious complications

A ruptured aneurysm releases blood into the spaces around the brain, called a subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). SAH is life threatening with a 50% risk of death. Blood in the subarachnoid space increases pressure on the brain. At the same time, the area of brain that previously received oxygen-rich blood from the affected artery is now deprived of blood, resulting in a stroke. I was given a 50/50 chance and if I lived it would be very unlikely I would walk again.

I did survive and have been having periods of rehabilitation. The process of my rehabilitation is specific to me, and has depended on my symptoms and how severe they are. A team of specialists have been and are available to help, including physiotherapists, psychologists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and specialist nurses and doctors.

The damage that the stroke caused to my brain have had a massive impact on many aspects of my life and wellbeing stripping me of my independence and forcing my two youngest children to have to go into foster care. Thankfully not too far away and visits have been often and they have seen their me becoming stronger and stronger. I have learnt to walk again and Im regaining more movement in my left side every day.

I have known Iain for a number of years and asked him if he would help raise some money for The Stroke Association by doing a run not just on his own but pushing me as I would like to do it also.

I, Iain, Lucie and my 15 year old son Joshua will be taking part in the Blackpool Beaverbrook’s 10K fun run on the 11 May. I will be traveling in style along Blackpool’s sea front being pushed in a chair by Iain, Lucie and Joshua . I will be crossing the finish line on my own two feet, hopefully we can have lots of friends and family along the way to show your support and cheer.   

 

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