Erin and Cailins stroke story

At the age of twenty two, I was living my life unaware that I was five weeks pregnant with my daughter Cailin. In a moment my world came crashing down around me, I suffered a rare stroke due to my pregnancy.

Unfortunately because I was so young when I got to hospital they thought my symptoms were because I was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, so my treatment was delayed. 

I was stunned when the doctors finally told me that I had had a stroke, and also that I was going to be a Mum! -  My unborn baby and I had survived a stroke and a pulmonary embolism.

The stroke had left me with left sided hemiplegia, so I don't have use of my left arm or hand and walk with a limp, very limited sensation on my left side, memory issues, depression and fatigue. But I had a baby on the way and needed to take care of her.

I began thinking immediately about what I needed to do to be in best possible place to bring Cailin into the world. And I succeeded, I had a natural birth and both of us were there – a family.

I taught myself how to change nappies one handed, feeding, everything that you have to do as a new parent. Cailin also had to grow up fast, when she was about two I was having difficulty pulling my pants up after going to the toilet, she started to help me by pulling them up for me saying ‘it's OK mummy, I'll help” and she did!

My daughter is now eight and I am thirty one, and we’ve been there for each other’s milestones, both learning how to walk, she will hold my hand when I get unsteady walking down stairs, and I am an expert at the one handed plait.  

When Cailin started school I was petrified that she would be singled out because of me, but she told new friends “Mum just does things differently” when kids said something about my walking. Cailin has grown up knowing no difference in my abilities.

I still do some physio every now and again, but I am now able to walk unaided which is huge after being told I'd never walk again. I still have bad days where it's difficult to function but my focus moves quickly back to living life.  

I completed my university studies, and became a qualified Social Worker and Social Planner. I am now working in the disability sector and I am supporting other young stroke survivor's.  There are few social supports or groups for young stroke survivors, and there is a huge difference between a 20 year old survivor and a 50 year old survivor, they’re at different phases of their lives.