Every day the Foundation is contacted by stroke survivors and their families who share stories of their experiences after stroke. Many survivors believe they were discharged from hospital and placed back into the community without adequate support.

The Stroke Foundation receives limited funding from the government to achieve our mission to stop stroke, save lives and end suffering. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters we are able to work towards our vision but there is much more we can do. A new campaign was launched in September to unite and increase the voice of stroke and garner support to ‘fight stroke’. We are calling on our supporters to join us in this very important campaign.

The Fight Stroke campaign was conceived to raise awareness of the grim fact that stroke is Australia’s second biggest killer yet many community members underestimate its impact. In Australia around 160 strokes occur every day. Strokes are largely preventable and they need to stop.

By inviting every Australian to join the fight against stroke, the Foundation is empowering individuals to actively contribute to raising the profile of stroke. It is all about educating others; to understand what a stroke is; how to prevent stroke; and the impact that stroke has on sufferers and their networks.

Ade Djajamihardja and his wife Kate Stephens (pictured above) know only too well the impact stroke can have. Demanding 12 hour days spent working on their successful film and television production company were put on hold, and their world turned upside down when Ade suffered a stroke in July last year.

Post stroke Ade spent six months in hospital with a great deal of time in intensive care. He was not expected to survive. He underwent brain surgery to reduce the swelling in his skull and was placed in an induced coma for some weeks.

The pair have returned to their Melbourne home, but their lives have changed drastically with Ade physically devastated by the stroke. He suffered complete hemiplegia on the left side of his body and lost a lot of his vision, which means he is unable to work. Kate has taken on the role of full-time carer.

“We’ve been through a traumatic time, but we choose to be positive. Until you get close to something like stroke, you don’t think it can happen to you. Hopefully the Fight Stroke campaign will make people understand it can”, Kate says.

Ade is making progress in his physical rehabilitation. He says setting goals has really helped him to literally take steps forward.

“At first I wanted to sit up, then feed myself and be able to talk”, he says. “Working with my speech therapist and physiotherapist I’ve been able to achieve this”.

He is now focused on being able to walk across the 100 metre long bridge near their home and is already walking six metres with just his walking stick.

Ade says that he hopes Fight Stroke will make more people aware of how devastating stroke is and why it’s important to reduce your risk.

“I’m all for helping the National Stroke Foundation raise awareness of this terrifying and preventable situation. If Fight Stroke helps others, I’m all for it”, Ade says.

Like Ade and Kate, our supporters have enabled the Stroke Foundation to raise awareness and prevention of this terrible
disease.

You can join the fight against stroke by visiting www.fightstroke.au

Matt Lee Photography: food for thought

Cooking can be an activity that presents challenges for some stroke survivors, but it remains one of life’s necessities and, for some, great pleasures. Depending on where you are at in your stroke recovery journey you may be feeling frustrated at not cooking the way you used to. After the terrific response we received from readers when we recently posted our NSF colleague Emma’s recipe for a one-pot dish we thought we’d have a peek at the web for ideas other people have had – and kindly shared – about how to get around in the kitchen when your body responds differently to the way it used to.

TIPS:

• Bench tops: If bench tops are at an inconvenient height and modification is too expensive a butcher’s block or similar, height-adjustable table can be helpful for food preparation.

• Knife: A rocking knife can make it easier to chop with one hand.

• Chopping Board: Securing a chopping board to the bench prevents slip.

• Bowls & Pots: Bowls and pots can be secured to a surface with non-slip pads.

• Reading: If reading fine print is a problem, you can organise to have spices and other small items placed into a bigger container with instructions or use-by dates, etc, copied in large print.

• Frozen Veges: Frozen vegetables can be a healthy alternative when chopping is too difficult.

• Regularly used foods:  spreads, bread, cereal, can be more accessible if they already opened and at eye height.

• Oven mits & Pan holders: Make sure oven mitts and pan holders are in clear view.

• Preparation: Look for recipes that healthy and can be prepared in large amounts without using too many pots (such as casseroles and soups).

• Safety: We think safety is paramount, whether you go back to cooking hot meals or even just a snack for yourself, so if you can, have someone look over your kitchen for any potential hazards.

Happy eating!

Go to an Independent Living Centre for modified utensils

Avid NSF supporter and creator of Facebook group “I had a stroke and here’s a happy ending” Adrian O’Malley reached an amazing milestone earlier this month, when he completed a six day bushwalk in Tasmania.

Three and a half years ago, Adrian O’Malley was a fit and healthy 34 year old looking forward to becoming a first time dad. Then with no warning, he suffered a stroke that changed the course of his life.

Unable to walk, use his right arm and hand and limited vision Adrian set himself a challenge – to increase public awareness of stroke and raise money for the National Stroke Foundation by walking Tasmania’s Overland Track.

“It’s been a long haul that started with me trying to walk the length of the hospital corridor” said Adrian “It feels great to have proven a stroke hasn’t stopped me from doing this”

We would like to thank Adrian for his inspirational efforts in raising awareness of stroke and congratulate him on his achievements, both on and off the Overland Track.

Adrian has appeared in a number of media interviews, discussing his experiences, some of which can be viewed below.

• Adrian O’Malley on 936 ABC Hobart.wmv

• Adrian O’Malley in The Examiner

• Adrian O’Malley on Southern Cross News

Emma Gee works at the NSF as a Project Officer in the stroke support area. Emma survived a stroke at 24 years of age, this experience, along with her career knowledge as an Occupational Therapist enables Emma to offer a candid and honest view on what it is like for those affected by stroke and how the new StrokeConnect online forum can help.

I understand the support stroke survivors and carers receive following a stroke can assist in the road to recovery. Following my own experience, I am passionate about enhancing stroke support and am committed to growing and fostering a supportive online community with a new NSF initiative called StrokeConnect.

StrokeConnect is an online forum, that provides a safe place to build connections with others who have a similar experience, pose questions, find answers, stimulate new discussions, get information and share stories. It enables people to meet others affected by stroke without having to leave their home.

Throughout my own recovery I’ve had amazing support, but realised it can still be tough.

The prospect of other stroke survivors tackling this journey on their own really scares me. I am so pleased to be part of the StrokeConnect initiative, as it enables everyone involved to feel they have support from others who understand their situation.

StrokeConnect offers support to anyone affected by the aftermath of stroke. For example, I think people underestimate how huge a carer’s role is in any stroke survivors journey, without them we’d be so lost, but StrokeConnect is designed to support them too.

It’s great to hear that other people are dealing with the same problem, just to hop online and vent about a problem and for someone at the other end to really understand.  The fact that we can access this support without getting out of our pjs, facing the bad weather and relying on the support of another to take you out, makes it so much easier for all.

Our aim is that StrokeConnect continues to grow and becomes a valuable and essential element of peer support for stroke survivors, carers and others impacted by stroke.

StrokeConnect can reduce the impact stroke has on so many lives purely by enabling people to share and connect.

I strongly encourage anyone touched by stroke to get online, register and be part of the discussion.

StrokeConnect online can be viewed at http://www.strokefoundation.com.au/strokeconnect/

Have you ever wanted to be a Volunteer? Put your experiences to use? Help someone else in need?

We have two volunteering opportunities at the NSF and we really need your help.

The aim of Phone Peer Support is to connect stroke survivors with

volunteering carers and stroke survivors over the phone to provide them with emotional and practical support.

strokesafe^TM  is an education program where volunteers will provide the community with crucial knowledge to help them understand and remember the signs of stroke and how to prevent a stroke.

Training will be provided.

All you have to do is complete the volunteer application form. 

Click here for more info on the volunteering programs.

Those who can, do.  Those who can do more, volunteer ~ Author Unknown