We had a great Stroke Week breakfast at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday followed by a popular Know your numbers stall outside the famous parliament house café, Ossie’s. Stroke Survivor Karen Bayly gave a great speech and our CEO Erin Lalor introduced our new fight stroke commercial which was shown while we were eating our scrambled eggs!

We were joined at the breakfast by MPs and staff including good friends of the Stroke Foundation and co-chairs of our parliamentary friendship group - Jill Hall and Ken Wyatt, Dan Tehan - who also dropped by the Know your numbers stall, Maria Vamvakinou, Senator Don Farrell, who gave a great adjournment speech in the Senate on Wednesday night, Tony Zappia, Senator Claire Moore, Gary Humphries and chair of the Labor Party social policy caucus committee, Shayne Neumann. The Health Minister Tanya Plibersek also popped her head in.

At the Know your numbers stall we checked the blood pressure of over 100 MPs and staffers. It was great to see MPs, advisers and departmental staff but also parliament house gardeners, cleaners and security guards getting in on the action.

Senator Don Farrell, Australian Labor Party Senator for SA, National Stroke Week speech to parliament.

Speech Pathology Week talk by Garry Preston

Hi, my name is Garry, and I had a stroke on the 14 April last year that left me with a communication impairment. There are some words I just cannot get out but more on that soon.

It happened just three days before my wife Debbie and I were flying out for a six week tour of Europe.

Before I tell you my story I would like to thank Annie, my wonderful speech therapist from Balmain Hospital for inviting me here today.

She helped me to talk again.

I had my stroke at 5.11am at Ashfield station on the way to work. I phoned my wife “Debbie” who remembered FAST from her First Aid training and phoned 000. Because I got to the hospital FAST I got the “Clot Busting Drug”.

I remember my first contact with a speech therapist was while in Intensive Care at RPA. She tried to see if I could eat a bit of a biscuit by my body rejected it. Once in the general ward I progressed onto soft foods and I meet the first Speech Therapist that started working on my communication impairment.

I was let home at Easter and had homework. “KKKKK” “GGGGG” And, saying words like cap, car and kit.

While starting to write this a tear has come to my eye thinking about how far I have come in the last 16 months. While still in RPA hospital I took a positive outlook to my recovery but it has taken a lot of hard work. After Easter I returned to Balmain Rehabilitation Hospital. I played with toys to get my right hard moving again, weights to help my upper body strength, and I meet Annie who gave me lots and lots of speech and writing therapy. I learn’t to swallow my saliva, slow down (sadly I still talk to fast).

She gave me exercises to help my lips and tongue move more, and many more strategies to make my speech clearer. She would tell me to watch how she moved her tips. I remember thinking. Yes Annie I am watching. You have very white teeth and I wish my teeth were as white.

My wife Debbie would come in to visit me and I would do speech homework with her several times a day. Then there was the tongue, jaw, cheek and lip exercises and I would do them several times a day. For some reason the words ‘zany zoologist’ sticks in my mind.

Once I was discharged I set up my own therapy area in the back yard. I set up my bike on a riding stand; I did weights, played with therapy putty and tools from my kit. I would do speech exercises from notes Annie gave me over and over again. Looking back on it I wonder what the neighbours would think hearing me repeat over and over again sentences like - ‘We will have tea for two’, ‘linger longer here with Lisa’ and ’soup and soap sounds much the same’. When I left Balmain I was told there was a back log for outpatient therapy. No one told me it would take 15 weeks for speech therapy to start.

I am so pleased I got all the speech notes from Annie before leaving Balmain. Before starting speech outpatient therapy I had returned to work part time and I was asked to be the stroke survivor for the National Stroke Foundation at the opening of National Stroke Week at the State Library.

My outpatient speech therapist at Canterbury Hospital, ‘Ann’ helped me prepare my speech. My speech went down well, but I was interviewed by Prime TV later in the morning and my voice sounded tried. I returned to work part time three months to the day after my stroke and in time continued in my role as Chairperson of the site safety committee and site union delegate which forced me to talk a lot.

I also had to write up the safety minutes. I have never been a good speller but I began to think I had got worse since my stroke. I would get ahead of myself and leave off the first sound or letter of words.

This has improved over time. For a time I would muddle the words ‘work’ and ‘walk’ and sometimes still do. I have them right in my head but sometimes I have to think about which one I am saying before opening my month.

Soon after my return to work the company union delegate was sacked or made redundant depending which side of the fence you sit on. I was interviewed by managers and many phone called from union officials all looking for a way to settle the dispute. It took time and much more energy than in the past. I not only had to give clear answers but I also had to think about what words were coming out of my mouth, and were they the words I was thinking. This made me very tried.

I began swimming again in the local pool just a few weeks after getting out of hospital. I would count my strokes and found that I would be thinking 14 before 13 and putting the 40s’ before the 30s’. CRS Australia became involved in my ‘return to work plan’. I got a six month swim pass from them to help me joint movement and rehab.

I went swimming every night. I would count my strokes from 10 so I would count the 30s’ and 40s’ in every lap and in time I got it right. So the swimming was not just helping my physical rehab but also my mental rehab.

As my health began to improve Debbie and I began thinking about when we would do the tour of Europe we had missed out on.

I was contacted by the NZ Tunnellers’ descendants group and asked if I would read a letter my grandfather, Jack MacManus had written, at the 95th Commemorations of the Battle of Arras in France. My grandfather had a stroke at about the same age as me and through hard work came back from it and I had through of him a lot in my recovery. So this was an honour.

The Tunnellers’ were the first Anzacs’ at the Western Front because the main forces had not arrived from Gallipoli. Grandad’s Sergeant and mate Sam Vernon was the first Kiwi killed as a result of enemy action. Grandad wrote a personal letter back to Sam’s wife.

So on a very cold morning on the 9th April in Arras in North France at the 95th Commemorations in front of 100s’ of people and dignitaries from NZ, Australia, UK and France I read Grandad’s letter to Sam’s wife. I remember there was one word in the letter I just could not get out so I missed it out.

Just over 2 weeks later on ANZAC day NZ PM John Keys read the same letter out. After Arras, Debbie and I went on a seven week holiday of Europe. I went on a bike riding tour around Brittany in France, swimming in a lake in Ireland and did two Triathlons in the UK and one was in Glasgow, Scotland.

Since coming back from Europe I have a new employer, and I have finished the City to Surf fun run, running all the way. When I think about it, I may still have the odd word come out wrong, but I have had a wonderful recovery and I hope I can be an inspiration to other stroke survivors.

National Stroke Week 2011 ran from 12 – 18th  September. We know that many of you were actively involved, and we would like to take this opportunity to thank you, and to bring you up to date with some highlights of that week and the month of  September.

Stroke Week in the media:

This is a count of the number of times National Stroke Week was mentioned in print, radio, on TV and online news sites.

In Print: 215
On the Radio: 80
On TV: 21
Online Sites: 36

Community-based activities:

•    In total, 3,966 Stroke Week activity packs were distributed this year.  Packs were distributed through partnerships, stroke support groups, online registrations and other NSF activities and programs.
•    Key partnerships continued with all state RSL clubs and most U3A state clubs, who were encouraged to hold an activity or display and received a free Stroke Week activity pack. Approximately 307,200 state golfers and 168,200 bowlers received a stroke risk factor checklist and a 1-in-6 poster for 2,800 of their club rooms combined.
•    50 Stroke Week grants of $200 were again available to stroke support groups (NSF, supported groups and friends of NSF) to support their National Stroke Week activities.

State-based launches and other activities:

New South Wales

•    The national Stroke Week launch was held in Sydney on Monday 12 September at the State Library of NSW, with Dr Erin Lalor and a stroke survivor speaking, attracting good media coverage from Prime news.
•    NSF held a display and public talk at Parramatta Library.

Tasmania

•    The launch was held at Constitution Dock and featured approximately 50 Hobart City Council (Tassie Stroke Week Partner) staff performing a 6 minute physical workout with every 6th person being identified with a 1-in-6 T-shirt.  The activity was led by 6 trainers from a local Fitness Centre who commenced proceedings with a 6 minute fitness demonstration. The Deputy Lord Mayor officiated and cut a 1-in-6 cake. A 1-in-6 resource table was set up in the council Customer Service Centre for Stroke Week; staff wore 1-in-6 T-shirts and a 1-in-6 educational featured on their Service Centre TV screen. In the north of the state the Launceston General Hospital Stroke Week Challenge featured 4 teams of 6 performing a 1:6 obstacle race. Both events generated good media coverage.
•    Nurse-led 1-in-6 event and blood pressure testing at a suburban shopping centre, Royal Hobart Hospital and Glenorchy Medical Centre
•    NSF staff presentations to 30 people at the Hobart Women’s Health Centre and Hobart Health Hub
•    NSF & CRU (Community Rehabilitation Unit) combined event for stroke survivors and carers

Victoria

•    Dr Erin Lalor and two stroke survivors attended an informal ministerial briefing at the parliamentary offices on Friday 9th September, in attendance with six members of the legislative assembly and three members from the legislative council.
•    16 NSF staff and 11 corporate volunteers from National Australia Bank (NAB) and the Trust Company distributed ‘1 in 6’ stroke risk factor checklists to commuters entering and exiting Flinders Street and Southern Cross stations on Monday 12th and Wednesday 14th September. 9,600 checklists were distributed in total, with 70 blood pressures checked on the morning of Monday 12th at Southern Cross station. A member of the general public later contacted the NSF with a positive response, after going to her GP as a result of her high BP reading that day.
•    NSF staff made presentations as part of events held at Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre, Footscray Hospital and Stroke Association of Victoria’s Stroke Week Forum.
•    There were 12 strokesafe ambassador presentations conducted during National Stroke Week in Victoria to a total audience of 522 people.

Western Australia

•    Perth Mayor Lisa Scaffidi and a stroke survivor spoke at an official State launch opening and generated good media coverage.
•    A ‘Stroke for Stroke’ community awareness-raising swim was held in Fremantle and a ‘neuroacqua’ exercise session for stroke survivors generated enough interest to prompt 5 more of these workshops to be held.
•    The launch of Rockingham Stroke Support Group very well attended.
•    There were 7 strokesafe ambassador presentations to a total audience of 159 people.

Parliamentary statements:

Briefings were sent through to Health Minister’s offices for their information, with the following outcomes:

•    NSW: Mrs Roza Sage (Member for Blue Mountains) and Dr Andrew McDonald (Member for Macquarie Fields) spoke on National Stroke Week as a Matter of Public Importance within the NSW Parliament.
•    VIC: Ms Georgie Crozier (Member for Southern Metropolitan Region) used parliamentary adjournment to speak on National Stroke Week.
•    TAS:  Health Minister Michelle O’Byrne moved a motion in Parliament urging Tasmanians to support National Stroke Week.
•    FED: Mrs Karen Andrews (Member for McPherson) spoke about National Stroke Week.

Know your numbers blood pressure check

This week we ran a Know your numbers free blood pressure station at Southern Cross Train station in Melbourne, for National Stroke Week.

We received this email from Linda and we wanted to share with you all.

I want to thank you, on Monday you had a free Blood Pressure check at Southern Cross Station, I thought why not check. To my disbelief the reading was 169/106 I was floored and thought no way I have always been 110/70 low. Two days later I wanted to prove you wrong so I went to my GP for a further reading, he said Linda you BP is 170/88 needless to say I was given medication for three weeks with a chage of habit ie diet & fitness. I wanted to say that Angels  made me take your test and get a wake up call and possibility that you have saved my valuable life. Keep up spreading the word as I did when I went back to work, thanking you Linda.

Find your closest location for a free blood pressure check.

Note: the image provided is not of Linda, but is taken at Southern Cross Station on the day.

Every 6 seconds someone dies from stroke –know your stroke risk and live

1 in 6 people will suffer a stroke in their lifetime. Every one of those people are someone’s sister, brother, wife, husband, daughter, son, partner, mother, father … friend. Behind these numbers are real lives. Do you know your stroke risk?

Every 6 seconds someone, somewhere, regardless of their age or gender will die from stroke. Strokes can happen to anyone but many strokes are preventable. The National Stroke Foundation is urging all Australians to follow these 6 steps to reduce the risk and danger of stroke:

1.    Know your personal risk factors: high blood pressure, diabetes and high blood cholesterol
2.    Be physically active and exercise regularly
3.    Avoid obesity by keeping to a healthy diet
4.    Limit alcohol consumption
5.    Avoid cigarette smoke. If you smoke, seek help to stop now.
6.    Learn to recognise the warning signs of stroke and act FAST

F.A.S.T is an easy way to remember and recognise the signs of stroke:

• Face – Has the person’s mouth drooped?
• Arms – Can they lift both arms?
• Speech – Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?
• Time – Time is critical. If you see any of these signs, call 000 now

National Stroke Foundation CEO Erin Lalor says that by following these steps the rate and severity of stroke can be dramatically reduced.

“Stroke doesn’t discriminate, anyone can be affected,” Dr Lalor says.

“But everyone, no matter who they are, can lessen their chance of stroke, disability and death by understanding and then reducing their own risk of stroke.”

We encourage all mebers of the stroke community to hold an activity during Stroke Week. www.strokefoundation.com.au