I am a Stroke survivor.

On Thursday the 10^th August 2017 I thought I might die.

Earlier that day I had woken up with an horrendous headache, nausea, the world spinning and unable to walk so I had to crawl to the bathroom. The only warning of what was to come had been a sore neck and a dizzy spell the day before. A week or so earlier I had hurt my neck lifting and carrying heavy boxes, paving slabs and pots. I was 61 years old, recently retired from full time work and had always kept fit by running and playing golf. 

I was very confused as to what was happening but I could think clearly and speak normally and my symptoms did not fit the stroke acronym FAST.  It therefore took my wife and I a little while to realise that I needed to get to A and E.  We called 111 and the operator went through the FAST symptoms but I didn't have any of them. They arranged for a paramedic/doctor to phone me who also went through the same questions and suggested my wife take me to the nearest walk in centre as they didn't think I was an emergency case. As I couldn't walk however they sent a non emergency ambulance. At the Royal Lancaster Infirmary I went into the Resus unit and life then became a blur....The staff after carrying out further tests clearly suspected something  was seriously wrong. By 11pm I had been settled into a bed and the doctor came to my bedside. He said I either had a brain tumour or I had had a stroke. 

The following day and after a number of scans it was concluded that I had had a Vertebral Artery Dissection which had caused a Cerebellar stroke in my brain which in my case mainly affected my balance. This type of stroke is a rare condition often overlooked because it presents non specific symptoms, i.e. not those under FAST, and can be mistaken for other conditions like Labryrnthitis.

To aid my recovery the Stroke Association provided lots of information and I learned so much about the effects of a stroke. I realised that whilst I was in a bad way a full recovery was possible but it would take a long time. As I couldn't walk I started physiotherapy in the Hospital as soon as I could and by day 6 I could get to the bathroom on my own with a Zimmer frame. I left the hospital after 8 days and the doctor advised me that I should have a goal to walk a mile a day. 

The first day I managed 400 yards with a stick and my patient wife alongside.

A day later it was 800 yards.

Within 2 weeks I was walking 2 miles a day and after another week, 4 miles a day.

Recovery was coming along but my reactions were still bad and I was a bit wobbly. I recall a visit to the Supermarket when I held on to the trolley tightly as it was such a difficult experience. The recovery seemed to plateau but I realised I had to keep going. After a month I was allowed to drive again which was quite scary at first.

On the 7^th February 2018 nearly 6 months later I managed my first run – 14 laps of the Commonwealth Games warm up track at the Etihad in Manchester. For someone with balance issues the track was a safe place to run.

In April 2018 a number of family members and I ran the Blenheim Park 7k and raised funds for The Stroke Association. I have continued to play golf but my handicap has increased form 11 to 19 although there are signs of improvement now!

I am now 66 years old (yes an old age Pensioner!) and am doing this challenge to raise funds for other less fortunate victims of a horrendous illness/condition that can affect anyone. When it happened to me I was as fit as I had been for a long time! I also hope my story will inspire other victims to continue trying to recover. I am over five years out and still have some balance issues but they don't stop me doing anything though I doubt I would be any good on a high wire!