Hope for stroke survivors

Hope for stroke survivors

5 February 2025

A BALLYGOWAN woman has spoken of how her life changed after she suffered a stroke.

Mum-of-two Nicola Shaw (46) is sharing her story as part of a new initiative aimed at providing support for stroke survivors and their families.

The initiative, brought forward by Stroke Association, sees the installation of artwork in specialist stroke units across the province, illustrating the experiences of stoke-survivors, alongside important information and signposting.

At the time of her stroke in December 2022, Nicola had a fit and full life with her husband Darren, working 30 hours a week, and raising their two boys, Noah (7) and Dylan (10).

“I enjoyed socialising with friends, and trained at the gym seven days a week,” she said.

“In fact, it was just after a spin class that I began to feel unwell. I noticed my arm didn’t look like my own, and it had become floppy. The right side of my face was tingling and my tongue felt like it didn’t belong in my mouth.” 

After sitting for a moment, the symptoms seemed to pass and her functionality returned. It wasn’t until Nicola made a phone call to a colleague that she realised she was struggling to formulate words and her friend advised her to go to the accident and emergency department at the Ulster Hospital immediately. 

Thanks to this sound advice, and swift recognition from the A&E staff, she was quickly treated with the appropriate drugs.

She said: “Receiving the appropriate treatment so quickly is something I will always be grateful for, because ultimately, it greatly improved my prognosis.

“Although I was discharged from hospital after five days, my life had changed in an instant. Walking up a flight of stairs was a challenge, as was having a simple conversation. I found it difficult to witness how my stroke impacted my family and friends. It is not something I ever imagined could happen to someone as young as me.”

In the initial stages Nicola said she felt very isolated and frightened as her husband was out at work and her children were at school.

Through previous employment, she was aware of two charities, Stroke Association and Chest Heart and Stroke, and was able to reach out to them for support.

She said: “Hospital services are stretched. These charities step into the breach to provide invaluable and timely support, signposting, and counselling, for stroke survivors and their families.”

Nicola welcomes the new initiative, stating that not everyone knows the support is out there, and how having access to this support helps relieve stress and promote wellbeing.

The displays allow families and loved ones affected by stroke in Northern Ireland to easily find information, support and advice.

The Stroke Association also provides patients and healthcare teams with a support pack, which makes it easier for them to connect with support services, such as the Stroke Association helpline.

Today Nicola reflects on just how far she has come on the road to recovery.

“The post-stroke fatigue I continue to face every day means my family and I are navigating a new normal,” she said.

“I used to feel like I had an infinite cup of energy, but now it is much depleted. I can no longer ‘do it all’, I have to pick and choose activities carefully in order to stay balanced and well.”

It is still early days, but Nicola feels grateful to be back at work in HR, back to the gym, and for a return to simple pleasures like helping the kids with their homework.

She said: “My husband is still picking up things I would previously have undertaken, but we keep reminding ourselves, it’s like putting together the pieces of a puzzle, and we take one day at a time.”

As Northern Ireland’s leading stroke specific charity, this initiative from the Stroke Association aims to address a critical gap of currently reaching only 33% of stroke survivors in the UK to provide much-needed help, support and advice following their discharge from hospital.

Following the pilot across the Ulster Hospital, Royal Victoria Hospital and Altnagelvin , the partnership hopes to expand to selected stroke units in other regions across Northern Ireland and the UK. 

Alasdair O’Hara, Northern Ireland Director at the Stroke Association, said: “Life after stroke can be daunting and we want to make sure that stroke survivors and their loved ones know about all the support that is out there when they’re in hospital and planning their return home.”