Stroke took away my independence

By Sheree Florussen

Hi, my name is Sheree, I am 36 years old. 

I live in Logan city, and I had a stroke on the 16th of October 2020. It happened at work at around 2pm.  

I had two signs of F.A.S.T. signs of stroke. They were my right-side arm and speech. The first signs of my stroke were numbness in my right-side foot and ankle and then I could not move my right-side arm. The right side of my body felt heavy and limp.  

By the time the ambulance had arrived, my speech was slurred. I could understand what people were saying but was having trouble getting the words to come out. 

I don’t think that my colleagues knew what was happening, because I did not know what was happening. 

My symptoms developed so quickly, but I just had a feeling that it was something really serious, and I immediately asked for my workmates to call the ambulance.  

I was taken by ambulance to the Princess Alexandra (PA) Hospital and was diagnosed with a bleed on the left side of my brain. Overnight the bleed had gotten worse, so I ended up having an emergency operation. 

My day-to-day life has changed drastically since my stroke. I have had to re-learn to use my right arm and hand, how to write, stand up and to walk, which I am still working on.  

My hand and arm came back after about four weeks, but it is still very weak, and most of the time I get around by scooter or wheelchair.  

I can walk, but sometimes don’t have the strength or energy to go very far. I suffer from headaches that last for half hour and which can happen on and off for weeks at a time.  

My balance is an issue, which is invisible to the people around me, and I suffer from regular seizures.  

Because of my stroke and my seizures, I cannot drive or ride my horse, even just visiting my horse is a challenge with the wheelchair. I rely on my husband Ian, and my 13-year-old daughter Amber to get around. I miss my independence and freedom. 

I have support carers to help me to get to my appointments, and to help me around the house for to day-to-day tasks.  

Before I had my stroke, I was very independent I did not need as much help to keep up with day-to-day life. 

I would like to thank Dr Kylie Ann Marie Ferguson and her team at the PA hospital and all the staff and nurses who helped me. I also want to thank the BIRU and their team of therapists, as without their help and ongoing support, I don't feel I would have improved as much as I have.  

I would like to thank the therapists who are helping me now with my ongoing sessions, there are so many, too many to name individually, but they know who they are. 

Most of all, I want to thank my friends and family, who have, and still are standing by me when times are tough. I am the type of person who keeps a smile and laugh on her face, I tend to see the funny side of things, but I still break down and I am not as strong as I may seem.  

This stroke is not just affecting me, but the people who are around and love me. They cop a lot of my frustration and have seen me at my worst.  

You all mean the world to me, I will keep on going, one step at a time. 

Thank you for your help and support, 

Sheree Florussen.