Health is not valued until sickness comes
By Lewis Hoffman
As a pharmacist of 50 years, you would think I’d be more careful with my blood pressure - I learned this the hard way, the day I had a stroke.
It was Valentine's Day 2009. My partner Jill and I had just sat down after dinner to relax and watch TV when I had what I thought was indigestion. I stood up to get an antacid tablet and that’s when it happened. My legs gave way and as I was falling, I asked Jill to ring triple zero (000) because I knew I was having a stroke. I thought all my birthdays had come to an end.
Fortunately, we had an ambulance station nearby and the paramedics came quickly. I arrived at the hospital within an hour. Jill told the waiting neurologist what had happened. She quickly diagnosed I had a stroke.
I lost my sight and speech and was paralysed down my right side. My short-term memory was shot, but I was determined that I wouldn’t be beaten - and I can be a stubborn bugger.
I spent one month at Wesley Hospital. And with the help of wonderful physiotherapists, speech therapist and occupational therapist (OT) got back on my feet. I spent another three months as an out-patient at Canossa Hospital.
The investment that this team put into my recovery has meant that I have been able to get my speech and movement back – although not my memory unfortunately.
Before I was discharged from Wesley, I asked the stroke nurse coordinator if I could come back as a volunteer in her ward when I was well enough. In my time in hospital, I wished there had been someone who knew how I was feeling to sit with me. The nurse thought it was a brilliant idea and left the door open for me to see if I had recovered enough to get there.
I wanted to give back. I believe that by supporting stroke patients on the ward, that we would be helping each other. I have been volunteering since 2014 and have sat by hundreds of patients and their families. It has given me so much joy.
But, after sitting with so many patients it dawned on me that it could dedicate some of my time to helping people prevent stroke. This is where Stroke Foundation came in - I became a StrokeSafe Ambassador.
Some of my most memorable talks have been at local men’s sheds. I talk to younger men between 60 – 80 years old about risk factors for stroke, especially high blood pressure. I still kick myself that I didn’t focus a bit more on my own.
Most men think that they are bullet proof – my story reminds them that they are not – no one is.
This National Stroke Week, Lewis is raising awareness of stroke at his local shopping center and pharmacy.
Brisbane City Councilor, Cr Sarah Hutton, popped in for a chat and to give Lewis a big pat on the back for the amazing work that he does in his community.