My Aunt Daphne invited me over the other day. She had, had a Stroke when she was 60. Now she is 75.

We had literally just celebrated her 60th birthday and then she was going to have a nice holiday in South Africa with my Uncle Peter and Auntie Marie ( who lived out there)

She had only been there for about a week. Unfortunately, she woke up one night and had suffered a stroke (8^th November 2003) They rushed her to hospital (as Peter had heard it ) and they did loads of tests to find out what was happening.

She had the left side partially paralysed, also there was loss of vision on one side but her speech was fine.

She was kept in the hospital in South Africa for 4 weeks and then flown home. Like I say the hospital nurses, doctors and the physios were just amazing.

On 29^th November she got transferred to Canterbury Hospital and then on the 10^th of December she got admitted to the Stroke Unit which she stayed until beginning of March 2014.

She didn’t have any speech therapy, like me, but there was a lot or retraining to do with her leg and arm.

When she came out she was told that she would have to go back and have a Carotid Endarterectomy.

Carotid endarterectomies are carried out when one or both carotid arteries become narrowed because of a build-up of fatty deposits (plaque).

This is known as carotid artery disease or carotid artery stenosis, (The carotid arteries are the main blood vessels that supply the head and neck) or Daphne’s way of putting it, was that it was like having a kettle fired up and it needed scraping off !!

I remember have a BBQ at my mums and Daphne have just come out of hospital and come up and we had to dress the wound 3 times a day – which I did at the time !

Over the next few years everything changed for Daphne. She lived on her own, so she had a shower fitted and a Stannah Stair Lift. She gave up work, unfortunately she gave up her car too. Her left arm although having Botox on it, it is functionally paralysed below the elbow. Her left leg has recovered a lot of it power, however she still walks with a stick to boost her confidence.

The other day I went round and went to the pub for dinner and it was just so funny ! My right side doesn’t work the the moment and Daphnes left side doesn’t work either, so you imagine Daphne and myself getting in the car, in the front I might add. If anyone saw us they might think,  what is going on !

She used to have certain goals ( her friend Daphne used to work through them with her) She wanted to go up and down on the escalators ( I can’t ! at the moment…..) but that was one of her goals and she did it !!!

Unfortunatly 5 years ago, she broke her left elbow which was painfull to see the last. Then in 2013 the hip broke and then 2016 they replaced it – so all good !!

The only thing is, that she is paranoid abut falling over.

And the holidays…..

Cruise around the Caribean – 2009, Barbados – 2010

Cyprus – 2011, Poland – 2012

Scotland – 2017, Torquay – 2018

But the thing, that keeps her going, is that all the time she doesn’t feel sad about it.

She just keeps going, enjoying herself …..