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Monika, Age 32

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Like the Hawthorn football player, Angelo Lekkas, who recently had a stroke, I am proof that stroke can happen to anyone.
My name is Monika and I had a stroke when I was 13. It happened at school and I was taken to hospital where it was diagnosed as a complicated migraine. But my mobility was very restricted and I couldn’t speak. So I had to go back to the children’s hospital and after many tests they discovered that it was a stroke.
My parents were really distraught. They just didn’t understand what was going on. The whole of my school was praying for me. I wasn’t able to go back to school for the rest of the year. I started doing speech, physio and occupational therapy. As a young child I felt really betrayed by my body. I had been so fit and healthy and I didn’t think that 13 year olds could have strokes. My family stood by me through the whole recovery process.
Now looking back at the age of 32, I know that I am not your average stroke survivor. I didn’t have high blood pressure nor was I unfit. It was still a warning that things like stroke can happen to fit and young people like me.
I was extremely lucky. I understand that of the 48,000 people who have stroke each year, many don’t survive or are disabled. The only residual impact on my life has been some numbness in my right hand. I now work with young women in juvenile justice and it not obvious to my work colleagues that I had a stroke.
Knowing that stroke can be prevented I would encourage anyone, particularly older people, to watch their weight, check their blood pressure, enjoy a good diet and most of all exercise. Not just exercise for your body but for your mind as well. In general just be careful with your health.
Please support the work of the National Stroke Foundation. Your help will create understanding of stroke and ways to reduce the effect of stroke.
Thanks for your support.
Monika
Monika, Age 32

Like the Hawthorn football player, Angelo Lekkas, who recently had a stroke, I am proof that stroke can happen to anyone.
My name is Monika and I had a stroke when I was 13. It happened at school and I was taken to hospital where it was diagnosed as a complicated migraine. But my mobility was very restricted and I couldn’t speak. So I had to go back to the children’s hospital and after many tests they discovered that it was a stroke.
My parents were really distraught. They just didn’t understand what was going on. The whole of my school was praying for me. I wasn’t able to go back to school for the rest of the year. I started doing speech, physio and occupational therapy. As a young child I felt really betrayed by my body. I had been so fit and healthy and I didn’t think that 13 year olds could have strokes. My family stood by me through the whole recovery process.
Now looking back at the age of 32, I know that I am not your average stroke survivor. I didn’t have high blood pressure nor was I unfit. It was still a warning that things like stroke can happen to fit and young people like me.
I was extremely lucky. I understand that of the 48,000 people who have stroke each year, many don’t survive or are disabled. The only residual impact on my life has been some numbness in my right hand. I now work with young women in juvenile justice and it not obvious to my work colleagues that I had a stroke.
Knowing that stroke can be prevented I would encourage anyone, particularly older people, to watch their weight, check their blood pressure, enjoy a good diet and most of all exercise. Not just exercise for your body but for your mind as well. In general just be careful with your health.
Please support the work of the National Stroke Foundation. Your help will create understanding of stroke and ways to reduce the effect of stroke.
Thanks for your support.
Monika
Last Updated ( Saturday, 08 September 2007 )
 
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