NSF StrokeConnect Forum

My name: Casey

My StrokeConnect member name: kcwilson

What you love to do: Craft, music

My favourite film: Robin Hood: Men in Tights

My greatest achievement: learning who I am

What is important to me: happiness

Casey (kcwilson) survived stroke at 22 years of age when an AVM caused a brainstem haemorrhagic stroke. Despite having vision, speech, hearing, mobility, sensation and balance deficits she is determined "to make a difference" and celebrates that she's alive and says "now I can appreciate the small things".

She has a 6.5 year old lab x, named Levi, and a 5 month old Great Dane named Tiny.

She's traveled intensively to Spain, France, England, Hong Kong, Vietnam, New Zealand, Fiji, and other places within Australia. After her stroke, she has been to Perth.

kcwilson resides in Ballarat, Victoria and represents not only younger stroke survivors but those living in rural communities. She says, "Sometimes I need support, and sometimes I can give support. And it's really difficult to find younger people that can relate, especially in regional centres".

ELIZABETHC
Elizabeth (elizabethc) was our very first StrokeConnect member when the site began in 2009.

She has contributed daily ever since as she strongly believes that sharing her story and life as a stroke survivor is so important for her own and others' recovery!

She resides in Newcastle, NSW with her partner and has seven grandchildren. Prior to her stroke she lived in New Guinea for many years and travelled to some really remote locations - often being the first white woman to do so.

She listens to 'radio national' and would be lost without her computer and contact with the online world.

She celebrates, that, "I am alive and continuing to recover with great support" and says that "recovery is possible your brain can retrain itself".

Elizabeth loves lobsters and hates bananas in any form.

NELG

My name: Glen Reigo (lives in Melb with wife Margaret)

My StrokeConnect member name:nelg

What I love to do: Reading, Public Speaking, News & Current Affairs, Sports & Travelling.

My favourite film: Ben Hur

My greatest achievement: Learning to talk again Post Stroke

What is important to me: having a happy & healthy family.

Glen (Nelg) survived stroke in August 1990 at the age of 43 years due to surgery for Aortic Valve replacement with a mechanical prosthesis.

Glen has won many competitions in a range of Sporting events, including track & Field, hockey, cricket, tennis, badminton squash & snooker.

He has travelled extensively but his longest period travelling was a ten year stint in the Navy.

Glen says that on his stroke recovery journey the best piece of advice he received was ,"To focus on a goal, be determined to achieve".

ALI

My name: ali

My StrokeConnect member name: ali

What I love to do: Swim, write, fitness, reading

My favourite music: At the moment anything by Muse and Eastern Conference Champions

My greatest achievement: My children

What is important to me: Family

Ali, survived stroke when she was 40 years old due to an artery blockage causing a total right sided paralysis and an inability to speak.

On her stroke recovery journey the best piece of advice she received was to know it get gets easier every year. One day Ali aims to swim the pier to pub again.

Ali believes that, "no-one gets it like those directly affected".

EMMA G
My name: Emma

My StrokeConnect member name: emma.

What you love to do: Swim, yoga, crafty things like cross stitch, time with family and friends.

My favourite computer game: Wii Fit Golf.

My greatest achievement: Re-learning to speak :).What is important to me:My family and friends, and my dog Gilbert.