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.

Image Via Heraldsun.com.au

IT’S National Stroke Week and the message the Stroke Foundation wants to get across is that one in six Australians will have a stroke.

It’s a statistic I didn’t think about until my partner had a severe stroke at the age of 54.

I’d foolishly imagined that strokes were the sort of thing that happened to people of my parents’ generation.

In the past year, though, I’ve met people from all walks of life who are trying to deal with the damage done by strokes - from toddlers to the elderly.

My learning curve took a steep climb when Peter was transferred from the acute stroke ward to a rehabilitation facility. There were four men in his ward, all in their 40s and 50s, and all with severe brain damage caused by strokes.

In the course of a single day they’d been transformed from vibrant, intelligent, independent and productive people into men with serious disabilities.

If any good can come from our experience it’s to help increase public awareness about the early warning signs of stroke. There is a wide range of information on the Stroke Foundation’s website and I implore you to read it at www.strokefoundation.com.au.

Apart from our own considerable problems, I’ve also learnt about the frustrations of many of those who work to help us.

Scarce resources and a confused and confusing health system see physiotherapists, occupational and speech therapists severely hampered in their continuing efforts to rehabilitate stroke victims.

While we’ve got to know and admire many therapists in the past year, it strikes me that there are some professionals particularly hard done by - those who don’t get to learn about the fruits of their labour.

I recall a British nurse in the emergency ward the night Peter was admitted. During his lucid moments Peter and the nurse bonded over soccer and their common love of Manchester United.

The nurse knocked off later that night hoping that Peter was going to be OK and that she’d never see him again.

Some days later the nurse recognised me in another part of the hospital and asked after Peter. I pulled back the curtain to Peter’s bed and tears rushed to the nurse’s eyes.

Peter’s passion for soccer and most other things had deserted him.

The nurse’s compassion made me wonder how many people pour their hearts into their work without ever expecting to know the outcome of their efforts.

It must be awfully hard to turn off emotionally after become intimately involved with the life-and-death dramas of strangers. We all want to know what happens next in any TV drama - but these real-life workers are meant to stifle any ongoing interest in the outcomes of their work.

The lack of feedback seems unfair to them emotionally, and unwise in terms of opportunities lost to learn from experience.

Just last week I met another such frustrated worker - a State Government employee assigned to help us navigate the treacherous waters of Victoria’s WorkCover system.

When I thanked him for his help, he simply said: “Please, just let me know what happens”. I was taken aback.

After all, we recognise the value of feedback in so many other fields of endeavour.

Why aren’t these workers getting it? Money alone can’t compensate for the blood, sweat and tears these good folk are pouring into their everyday jobs.

Article published in Herald Sun and Heraldsun.com.au

To read more articles from Jill Singer.

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.

The “One in Six” theme was selected by leaders of the WSO to highlight the fact that in today’s world, one in six people worldwide will have a stroke in their lifetime. Everyone is at risk and the situation could worsen with complacency and inaction.

The “One in Six” campaign celebrates the fact that not only can stroke be prevented, but that stroke survivors can fully recover and regain their quality of life with the appropriate long-term care and support. The two-year campaign aims to reduce the burden of stroke by acting on six easy challenges:

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 recognize the warning signs of a stroke and how to take action.

This weeks tweets from @wstrokecampaign #stroke

Stroke Challenge 1 of 6 is “know the conditions that put you at increased risk of #stroke” - #diabetes, high BP, high blood cholesterol

Stroke Challenge 2 of 6 is “be physically active” + help others do the same. Physical inactivity is the 2nd most common #stroke risk factor.

WSO’s #stroke challenge number 3 is committing to a healthy diet. Can you help ensure your community has access to healthy food choices?

This Friday, observe World Stroke Day by taking on the 6 #Stroke Challenges. Two more: reduce #alcohol, #tobacco, help others do the same

World Stroke Day, October 29, is tomorrow. Find an event near you here #stroke, the risks & what you can do

Thanks to @decaturbit @jchybinski and @hchybinski for the RT’s

Here at the NSF we are so thrilled that the FAST message is getting out there. After all the hard work spreading the FAST message during National Stroke Week last week, it is heart warming to hear the stories of people who have had better recovery outcomes after their strokes because they recognised the signs and acted FAST.

Our tea room walls are now full of articles about FAST that appeared in papers across the country for National Stroke Week. Each individual story acts as a reminder for why we do the work we do; to stop stroke, save lives and end suffering.

Knowing the signs of stroke empowers you to save the life of someone having a stroke. Click here to forward the FAST wallet card to friends.

National Stroke Week 2012 runs from September 10 - 16.

1 in 6 people will have a stroke – behind these numbers are real lives. Strokes can happen to anyone so it is important to know your stroke risk. We are encouraging all Australians to remember this statistic and understand the six steps to work towards preventing stroke. For more National Stroke Week 2012 For more about FAST the signs of stroke click here.

National Stroke Week has hit the nation this week - with our new FAST campaign hitting your screens, airwaves and even taking to the streets! We kicked off the week with launches in Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania.

Celebrating the FAST message at the WA launch in Perth

We need to get everybody to learn the signs of stroke and be able to perform the FAST test. Would you know what a stroke looks like? Look out for the feature skit from the VIC launch to be posted soon!

The FAST Challenge was held in Launceston today, where staff of the Launceston General Hospital and Launceston Aquatic helped people understand that by acting FAST they can also save lives.

If you are in Perth, make sure you head down to the Murray St. Mall to visit our FAST stall this Friday all day.

The team here at the NSF has been really busy and super keen to get the message across to the public - Think FAST Act FAST! Staff members colonised the main Melbourne train stations during morning rush hours this week handing out FAST wallet cards to commuters. It was a fantastic sight to see so many people looking down at their cards at the new FAST images and learning the signs of stroke amidst their early morning rush. We hope that arming people with this knowledge will help them to save lives.

FAST wallet card

Have a look at our new FAST campaign TV advertisement on our YouTube channel or Facebook page. We have had really positive feedback so far, with people saying that the images clearly deliver the FAST message. What do you think?

We work very hard here at the Stroke Foundation to raise awareness of the signs of stroke and the importance of calling 000 (triple zero) immediately if you think you, or someone you are with, is having a stroke.

Our FAST campaign uses the acronym FAST to help people remember and recognise key signs of stroke. So when we hear stories of how the FAST campaign has helped everyday Australians like Kim Durose, we are inspired to know that the work we are doing is making a difference.

The best way to educate even more people - and save more lives - is to let everyone know about these personal stories.

So we would like to know your story. Has knowing the signs of stroke or the FAST test saved your life or the life of someone you know? Were you able to think F.A.S.T. and act FAST? Email Strokeweek@strokefoundation.com.au to tell us your story of recognising the signs of stroke.