Staying positive in the face of adversity By Emily Korir

Up until six years ago, I was a healthy, active career woman, wife and mother of two children. I was 37 years old and had only recently returned to my job after maternity leave. I was also heavily involved in my local community. 

But life as I knew it changed in an instant. I suffered a stroke while getting ready for a friend’s surprise birthday party. My head began to throb. Thinking it was a headache, I reached for pain-killers but they kept dropping out of my hand. I felt dizzy and looked dazed. Luckily my daughter saw what was happening and called out for my husband Bernard who came running. Bernard stopped me from falling and lay me on a bed.  Bernard asked me if I was okay and I mumbled back something about a Mercedes Benz. He realised I was not making sense (we did not have a Mercedes Benz), so he called triple zero (000) for an ambulance. 

I spent the next week in a coma on life support fighting for my life. When I came to I was unable to walk, talk, read or write. Doctors told Bernard I may never regain my motor skills. It was devastating for my whole family.  

The next 12 months were incredibly long and challenging. The right side of my body was paralysed and I had lost my speech. While I felt physical pain, being in a rehabilitation centre was also incredibly tough emotionally. I longed to be home with my family. My baby was growing up and meeting milestones without me. 

At times it felt like I was not making progress, but Bernard and the children were my inspiration. I worked hard and never gave up for my family. When I was able to count to three for the first time, it was a huge moment for me. Then after eight months, I was able to text one word on my mobile phone. 

It is quite amazing to think of how far I have come since my stroke. I’ve made a full recovery with no loss of faculties. The health professionals who supported me were wonderful and I am so grateful.

I was determined to get my life back on track and defied the odds in so many ways. I started a Masters Degree in Business Administration shortly after completing 12 months of rehabilitation. I suffered terribly from fatigue, but fortunately the school was flexible and I was able to complete my MBA in less than two years. 

Stroke threw an enormous obstacle at me and made it very difficult to get a job. The minute I mentioned stroke in an interview, I felt like I became a liability for an employer. 

But I never gave up. I decided to tackle a Masters in Disability Policy and Practice to understand where policy meets practice. I was lucky when doing my masters, I had the opportunity to study the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) as a policy and it became my passion. After various roles, I started my own company working as a consultant and an auditor in the NDIS.  I am helping providers big and small to thrive in the NDIS. 

On top of all that, I am pursing my PhD, focusing on women with disabilities in developing countries and comparing them with women with disabilities in remote Australia.

My mantra is “Don’t let anybody else’s perception of you become your reality. Only you can stop you” - and I live by it. 

Since my stroke, I have furthered my passion for fighting for inclusion. I hope to make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities in Australia and Kenya by drawing on my studies and my own experience of stroke. I am working on a project to build the first ever accessible home for children with disabilities in Kenya.

My life is busy, but I take care of myself. I am on blood pressure medication to prevent a second stroke and I have made some lifestyle changes. I remain very grateful for the ongoing support and encouragement I receive and from family and friends. 

As a stroke survivor, I strive to be an example of resilience and a reminder of the power of a positive mind. 

I am writing a book on overcoming adversity against all odds and have been recognised by the UN for the International Women’s Day work I am doing in Adelaide. In 2015 I was even inducted into the Australian Women’s Honour Roll and I was nominated for Australian of the year in 2017. I dedicate all my recognition to people with disabilities.