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 |
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 08 September 2007 )
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South Australian woman recalls early signs before stroke. Tanya was just 41 when she experienced a stroke. “I remember talking to my husband. Apparently I indicated to him that I had a severe headache and the next thing I remember is looking at my hand and feeling that though it wasn’t attached to my body. It was almost as though I was drunk,” Tanya recalls |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 14 May 2008 )
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Kate was just 20 years old when she experienced a stroke and is proof that a stroke can happen at any age. Kate was watching TV with her boyfriend and can look back now and recognise some of the early signs of stroke. Kate remembers experiencing an intense headache, weakness and numbness on her left side, uncontrollable vomiting and loss of muscle control. “I remember watching TV and then I woke up in ICU”, young Kate remembers. Kate’s recovery continues and she spent her 21st birthday in rehabilitation. However Kate has
a renewed passion for study with an interest in Neuropsychology. Kate also feels very thankful that she was able to make such a good recovery. |
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Tasmanian woman remembers experiencing signs of stroke for a month leading up to her stroke Fiona was just 24 years old, married and working as a nurse when she had a stroke.
Fiona remembers some early signs of stroke in the month before it hit her, “I had a pretty severe headache and blurred vision. I was pregnant at the time and told not to worry about it. If only I knew then what I know now.” It took Fiona nearly 13 years to recover from her stroke. It was a long recovery to learn to walk and talk again. Fiona still doesn’t have the use of her right arm which remains paralysed. |
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Life After 
