I honestly thought that I had been bitten by a snake

By Jenny

When I was 21, my father passed away from a hemorrhagic stroke. He had the classic F.A.S.T. signs - facial droop, slurred speech and paralysis on the right side. Watching this happen to my father made me aware of the symptoms of a stroke. But when I was struck down in January this year, my symptoms were very different

I am a very fit 43-year-old mother of two. We were enjoying a normal day at the beach, playing and having fun. We live only a short five minute drive from where we were, but by the time we got home my leg felt like it had turned to rubber. I tried to walk, but it felt like a flag flapping in the breeze. I honestly thought that I had been bitten by a snake.

Then my leg completely gave way. It was only then that I felt a numbness creeping up the right side of my face and a heavy metallic taste in my mouth. It was at this point I thought stroke. I lifted both arms and they were fine, but we called an ambulance anyway. I knew deep down what was happening.

At the hospital a barrage of tests was done. The doctor was not sure if it was a stroke either, but an MRI was ordered to get an image of both my brain and my back. The diagnosis was multiple strokes.

I was in a huge state of shock, I couldn't comprehend why I had a stroke. I am super athletic, fit, active, I eat well and do all the right things for my health - so why?

I was so scared of a bigger one happening and the fear of leaving my babies was terrifying.

They say a stroke doesn't happen to an individual, but to a family. In our case, this is true, especially for my children. One minute I was playing with them and the next minute I was in an ambulance and then in hospital for a month. My daughter endured a lot of traumas from the separation. She's only four years old and she is still experiencing intense separation issues because of my stay in hospital.

I was placed in a complex dementia care ward, with no other younger patients, which was very isolating and scary at times. It had automatic shutting doors which would sometimes shut on my daughter and her dad. My husband had a broken back at the time and couldn't carry her. She would bang on the glass doors and scream. It broke me every time and still does.

Over the month in hospital, I learned to walk again, and if you saw me now, you wouldn't think that I live with any impacts of the stroke. But I do, they are invisible - the emotional impact is huge.

My ability to remain calm with the kids is not great. I find my level of patience and tolerance is so much less than it was. So, I work hard to be aware and remove myself from a situation when it gets too much. My anxiety is much, much higher now. I am still healing from the shock of what's happened and the long separation from my kids.

It's still very early days for me, but I'm proud that I haven't given up on myself and maintained a strong positive mindset through this journey so far. I am waiting to have a PFO procedure, and I hope I feel less vulnerable after it.

I would like to thank the people who have been my rock. My husband, my family, friends and the amazing stroke teams at Lismore and Ballina Hospitals.

Thank you.