Chrissy. Sharon. Greg. Carly. Marina. Angie. Melissa. Priya. Me. Julie RIP.
Different folks. Different strokes.
Mostly clots. A bleed or two.
Takayasu’s Arteritis. Pregnancy. Blood pressure. Atrial Fibrillation. No fucking idea. Sorry ‘cryptogenic’.
For some: Paralysis. Dysphagia. Aphasia. Fatigue. Pain. Loss of independence.
For all: Permanent brain damage. Fear.
“Don’t let your stroke define you!!”
According to one 2021 study, the most common age for stroke was 71.4 years in men and 76.9 years in women. Those names above, the youngest was in their early twenties, the oldest in their early fifties when they had their first stroke. Since the age of 44 I’ve had ‘stroke folk’. I mean belonging is important, but clubs are better when you want to join them, rather than ‘have’ to join them.
I lost a very good friend this year to stroke. It felled her beachside while she celebrated a friend’s wedding. Why her? Why silence such a joyous human who threw profanities and kindness around like a toddler high on sugar?
“Why are you still banging on about it, you’re fine!” (Oh how I hate ‘fine’ and ‘lucky’)
But people still don’t know what to do in the case of emergency.
They don’t know FAST (Face, Arms, Speech, Time).
They don’t know that women often present differently (weird vision, fatigue, feeling ‘very’ unwell)
They don’t know that strokes are killing more women each year than breast cancer.
They don’t act because nobody likes to make a ‘fuss about nothing’.
Those ten names at the top of the page are not nothing.
Better the wrong call, than no call. Trust me.
Or ask my children.
National Stroke Week 2023 encourages the community to fight stroke together so that you or your loved ones can continue to enjoy life during and after recovery.
Fighting stroke together aims to bring people together to share knowledge, support and resources to help prevent strokes from occurring and to aid in the recovery process for those who have experienced a stroke.
Help others to keep enjoying life too by sharing the F.A.S.T. (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) signs of stroke with your family and friends. If you or someone you know experiences the signs of stroke, no matter how long they last, call triple zero (000) immediately.
I have no affiliation with the National Stroke Foundation nor was this a sponsored post.