This is my story by Tracey Skene

 It was the end of a busy and stressful week for me when a strange pain began in my right leg.

I was in the car with my hubby at the time and just didn’t feel right. I didn’t pay too much attention to it though. We had a lot happening in our lives and I had been emotional, so I put feeling odd down to that.

When we arrived home and went inside, I sat down for a cuppa and the pain lingered. I found it hard to think straight. Hubby was concerned, so he ran through the F.A.S.T. checklist with me but the alarm bells were not ringing yet.  I thought I’d be fine after a rest, so I took myself to bed.

Almost six hours later, I got up to go to the bathroom and on the way back to bed I lost control of my whole right side. I had a slight droop in my face and slurred speech, but managed to wake my hubby and tell him we needed to get to hospital quickly.

That was when my life changed. After several hours I was transferred to another hospital by ambulance. It was a place I knew well because I worked there casually.

As I lay there in familiar surrounds, I felt surprisingly calm. Believe it or not, I had an inner voice from the moment of my stroke right through rehabilitation reassuring me I would be okay. I link this to my strong cultural beliefs. Being an Aboriginal descendant, I knew a past loved-one was right by my side helping me through this tough time.

As the days passed, I found rehab incredibly challenging. My dominant side was gone and I had to learn to walk, talk and feed myself again. I learnt to cook one handed and train my brain to tell my right arm and leg to move.

I spent three long months in rehab. I had wonderful support from the medical staff, family and friends, but at the end of the day you have to push yourself. I was determined to make a good recovery and be able to do the simple things again – things we take for granted like showering and putting on a bra.

I set myself goals that were important to me. I wanted to cuddle my family and my grandchildren with both arms. This did eventually happen. And when I left rehab, I ended up walking out – not perfectly - but walking nonetheless.

In the months that followed, I got the majority of my arm use back, my writing has improved and I am gradually returning to work. Chronic fatigue and anxiety test me, but I am focused on adapting as best as possible.

Before my stroke, I had started a TAFE course in Horticulture and Bush Tucker Production. While I fell well behind, I never gave up and I completed the course with the help of my incredibly supportive TAFE teachers and friends in my class.

I was so proud when I ended up winning Aboriginal Student of the Year for the Northern Region as well as Aboriginal Student Finalist for the New South Wales State Training Awards.

Stroke has been a long, hard journey, but I am feeling satisfied with my results in life. It has changed my outlook for the better and has made me and my family stronger.

There are things that crop up that I realise I can’t do yet. I don’t have the same amount of stamina or strength for activities like house work and gardening. I sometimes have a little cry, but then get on with it.

Since my stroke, I have made major changes to my lifestyle.  I now take my diabetes seriously and take more care with my overall health. I try to stress less and don’t run myself ragged by taking too much on. I make myself stop, think about my own wellbeing and rest. I am more resilient and stronger than I thought I was. I know how lucky I am to be here, enjoy life and watch my grandchildren grow.

I am also passionate about spreading stroke awareness in my community. Aboriginal people have such a high rate of diabetes and chronic illness, and need to be educated by someone they trust and feel comfortable with. I want to show them I am proof you can make changes in your lifestyle if you have a vision.  I continue to adapt and recover every day. I will never give up.