I went to hospital early in the morning as I thought that I was in labour, only to be sent home. We weren’t expecting Lachlan for another five weeks. But by 4pm I was feeling very sick and when I called the obstetrician I was told to come back to the hospital. At the hospital I spent the first few hours throwing up and in real pain. I really didn’t know what to expect as a first time mother and I thought that this was just a difficult labour.

The contractions started at around 5pm and at 8pm I was taken into the delivery room. Two hours later little Lachlan was born and as he weighed just a tiny 2kg, he was placed into a humidicrib. I remember my obstetrician asking me if I was in shock as I was so quiet. I could only manage to say “yes” and I thought to myself “YES I must be in shock”. Then when my husband Nick tried to hug me I couldn't raise my left arm. Everyone around me then realised that I couldn’t talk and that something was very wrong. I really don’t remember much from here. But I now know that I was taken into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). I have no memory of the first few hours of my baby’s life.

We should have been rejoicing in the birth of our first child, but instead I was in the ICU ward just hanging on to life after suffering a stroke.

I was in the ICU for five days unable to speak and suffering severe headaches and loss of movement in the left side of my body. I don't remember any of this, but Nick did bring our baby boy in to see me. Lachlan was also in special care and it was a very distressing time for my husband and family.

I was transferred to the neurological ward of the hospital and from there I went to the rehabilitation centre for a further six weeks. My road to recovery began in earnest and it was a most frustrating, but also positive time with continuing progress being made. During this time I went by wheelchair to visit my baby in the Special Care Nursery and while I was not able to breastfeed him then, I expressed breast milk and successfully established breastfeeding after returning home.
Gradually movement returned, initially in my left leg, followed by my left arm. Finally my speech returned, albeit slowly. I remember feeling frustrated when I couldn’t say “earplugs” and when I didn’t know how to use the laptop Dad had brought in, or my mobile phone.

Later when I could talk more I was always saying “hair” and my husband knew what I meant and would tie my hair up or I would say “watch” and he would put on my watch because I couldn’t do it myself. I could usually only say one word but people knew what I meant. Then half sentences came.

We rejoiced in the small things. There was slight movement in my arm after three weeks – I remember it was a Saturday and the physiotherapist and I were so excited to see a twitch in my fingers. The Saturday physiotherapist left a note for the weekday physiotherapist saying “MOVEMENT IN FINGERS!!!” I was also very excited when I was able to walk two metres and then the next day 20m and then 60m.

Lachlan is now 11 months old and thriving. I love watching him grow but I am also scared that I could have another stroke. I was going to go back to tutoring this semester but I have just been diagnosed with post stroke epilepsy. When I get my confidence up I may lecture again.

Please support the National Stroke Foundation. I have found the support and information so useful in my understanding of this major disease. Thank you for reading my story and please help in any way possible.