Hi. At the start of February 2023, just a few weeks before my 18th birthday, I was experiencing extreme headaches and I put them down to just being severe migraines. On the evening of February the 5th, I collapsed whilst sitting at the table eating dinner and my mum found me on the floor having a seizure. Prior to this, I had never had a seizure before. I don't remember much from this point onwards, other than waking up surrounded by paramedics feeling rather dazed and upset. I proceeded to have another seizure in the ambulance whilst on the way to the hospital, and one when I got there, so I was rushed to resus and sedated so that my body could calm down. I don't have much recollection of what happened after this, but after a very long night of running tests and scans I was diagnosed with Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis (CVST), and told that I had endured a rare type of stroke. CVST is the presence of a blood clot in the dural venous sinuses (which drain blood from the brain), the cerebral veins, or both. Symptoms may include severe headaches, visual symptoms, any of the symptoms of stroke such as weakness of the face and limbs on one side of the body, and seizures.

I was in the stroke unit of the hospital for almost a week, and I was discharged with anticoagulants and anti epileptic medications. They are still not sure how long I will have to remain taking these, as the cause of my blood clot is unknown. I have been left with memory issues, and I still have headaches on a near daily basis. It has also halted my career plans of becoming an engineer, and doing things that normally 18 year old's would do like learning to drive or going out to parties with friends.

Every day is different for me, but I am optimistic that I will make a full recovery. I would like to raise money for this charity as thrombosis is something that has not only effected me, but close family members too. I was not fully aware of what thrombosis was until it happened to me, and I believe others needs to be aware of the symptoms and know that there is support available.

During the month of May Thrombosis UK are encouraging everyone to get up and move in whatever capacity they can and do 10K. For the more mobile this could be 10,000 steps each day or for others it could be 10,000 steps a week or 10K over a month. Support me to do my 10K by walking 10k steps each week throughout the month of May.

All funds raised will go straight to Thrombosis UK and help them to continue raising awareness of Thrombosis across the UK

https://thrombosisuk.org/