I have been given a second chance at life
July 03, 2018
By Helen K
I’ve been a hairdresser for almost 40 years. It’s a job I love – and it’s exactly what I was doing on January 11 in 2018, the day I had a stroke.
I had just finished cutting my friend’s hair from home when I sat down to put some shoes on. I had a few errands to run (including picking up my blood pressure medication, which had run out two days earlier), but I never ticked off my ‘To Do’ list.
I started to feel odd. When I looked over at my son, I saw two of him. I was experiencing double-vision. I also felt dizzy, then the pins and needles started – first in my fingertips, then my toes, then up my arm and leg. At that moment I knew something was not right.
In my time as a hairdresser, I’ve listened to many, many stories. Clients take the opportunity to unwind and open up during a haircut. Among the stories, I’ve heard a number of accounts of stroke. This came back to me in that moment. I was hoping I wasn’t having a stroke, but I was.
My 16 year old son George called triple zero (000) and got my sister on the phone. She stayed on the line, talking away, to keep me alert. Once the paramedics arrived, they took me to hospital immediately.
I was given thrombolysis to dissolve a blood clot, which saved my life.
When I opened my eyes in hospital, I felt so lost. I couldn’t move the left side of my body. When I tried to speak, no words came out of my mouth. I just lay there and waited until the nurse showed up.
The nurse told me I’d suffered a stroke. Even though I knew what a stroke was, at that moment, I didn’t understand what she was saying. When the doctor arrived, she said I’d had a right ischaemic medial medullary stroke in my brainstem. Again, I didn’t understand, but I couldn’t speak or even nod my head. It felt like either a dream or a nightmare.
I was in hospital for seven weeks. I had double vision, impaired speech and trouble swallowing. I had to look to my left to swallow so I wouldn’t choke for four months.
While I was in hospital, I had intense rehab every day for six hours. I fell over twice, and although I was scared, it didn’t stop me. With the constant encouragement and smiles from my physiotherapist and family, I achieved small improvements.
I am so lucky to have been surrounded by unconditional love, kindness and support since my stroke. My family and friends coordinated with the nursing staff to give me the biggest surprise party. I cried so much – I was so overwhelmed by this wonderful gesture. My hospital room was so full of flowers one of the nurses thought I must have been famous!
I’ve been a single mum for many years, but after my stroke my 21 year old son John took on the big responsibility of caring for his two younger brothers. This gave me peace of mind and I could focus on my rehab and recovery. John, George (16) and Michael (14) have learnt to be a team.
Six months on, I’ve faced, and I am still facing, many challenges. I have not been able to return to my passion of hairdressing, I’ve lost my independence and have no income for the first time in my life. I’m not able to drive or cook all the beautiful Greek meals I did before my stroke. I’ve had to learn to depend on others.
I suffer enormously from fatigue and sleep an average of 10 hours each night. I need to really focus when I talk because sometimes the wrong words come out. But, on the upside, I have learnt to walk again. One of my sons bought me some new shoes and three days later I took my first steps.
To help with my overall health, I’ve given up smoking, eating unhealthy food and stressing over nothing.
I will admit though, the daily loneliness can be tough. I water my garden and "smell the flowers” as I know I’ve been given a second chance at life.
I’ve learnt not to take anything for granted. You just don’t know what’s around the corner. I’ve also learnt to listen to my body and not ignore how I feel. On top of that, I truly understand how important it is to keep up with my exercises and do as many repetitions as I can. The more, the better – the brain can learn again.
I recently managed to put on a pretty dress and heels for a short time to attend a wedding. It felt amazing. But the best part was, I got to dance with my boys. That was the most euphoric feeling I’ve ever had.
Life is bittersweet. Stay strong.
I’ve been a hairdresser for almost 40 years. It’s a job I love – and it’s exactly what I was doing on January 11 in 2018, the day I had a stroke.
I had just finished cutting my friend’s hair from home when I sat down to put some shoes on. I had a few errands to run (including picking up my blood pressure medication, which had run out two days earlier), but I never ticked off my ‘To Do’ list.
I started to feel odd. When I looked over at my son, I saw two of him. I was experiencing double-vision. I also felt dizzy, then the pins and needles started – first in my fingertips, then my toes, then up my arm and leg. At that moment I knew something was not right.
In my time as a hairdresser, I’ve listened to many, many stories. Clients take the opportunity to unwind and open up during a haircut. Among the stories, I’ve heard a number of accounts of stroke. This came back to me in that moment. I was hoping I wasn’t having a stroke, but I was.
My 16 year old son George called triple zero (000) and got my sister on the phone. She stayed on the line, talking away, to keep me alert. Once the paramedics arrived, they took me to hospital immediately.
I was given thrombolysis to dissolve a blood clot, which saved my life.
When I opened my eyes in hospital, I felt so lost. I couldn’t move the left side of my body. When I tried to speak, no words came out of my mouth. I just lay there and waited until the nurse showed up.
The nurse told me I’d suffered a stroke. Even though I knew what a stroke was, at that moment, I didn’t understand what she was saying. When the doctor arrived, she said I’d had a right ischaemic medial medullary stroke in my brainstem. Again, I didn’t understand, but I couldn’t speak or even nod my head. It felt like either a dream or a nightmare.
I was in hospital for seven weeks. I had double vision, impaired speech and trouble swallowing. I had to look to my left to swallow so I wouldn’t choke for four months.
While I was in hospital, I had intense rehab every day for six hours. I fell over twice, and although I was scared, it didn’t stop me. With the constant encouragement and smiles from my physiotherapist and family, I achieved small improvements.
I am so lucky to have been surrounded by unconditional love, kindness and support since my stroke. My family and friends coordinated with the nursing staff to give me the biggest surprise party. I cried so much – I was so overwhelmed by this wonderful gesture. My hospital room was so full of flowers one of the nurses thought I must have been famous!
I’ve been a single mum for many years, but after my stroke my 21 year old son John took on the big responsibility of caring for his two younger brothers. This gave me peace of mind and I could focus on my rehab and recovery. John, George (16) and Michael (14) have learnt to be a team.
Six months on, I’ve faced, and I am still facing, many challenges. I have not been able to return to my passion of hairdressing, I’ve lost my independence and have no income for the first time in my life. I’m not able to drive or cook all the beautiful Greek meals I did before my stroke. I’ve had to learn to depend on others.
I suffer enormously from fatigue and sleep an average of 10 hours each night. I need to really focus when I talk because sometimes the wrong words come out. But, on the upside, I have learnt to walk again. One of my sons bought me some new shoes and three days later I took my first steps.
To help with my overall health, I’ve given up smoking, eating unhealthy food and stressing over nothing.
I will admit though, the daily loneliness can be tough. I water my garden and "smell the flowers” as I know I’ve been given a second chance at life.
I’ve learnt not to take anything for granted. You just don’t know what’s around the corner. I’ve also learnt to listen to my body and not ignore how I feel. On top of that, I truly understand how important it is to keep up with my exercises and do as many repetitions as I can. The more, the better – the brain can learn again.
I recently managed to put on a pretty dress and heels for a short time to attend a wedding. It felt amazing. But the best part was, I got to dance with my boys. That was the most euphoric feeling I’ve ever had.
Life is bittersweet. Stay strong.
