NSF StrokeConnect Forum

HEATHBER

Heather (Heathber) survived her stroke at 45 years of age. On her recovery journey the best piece of advice she received was to...’ never give up, even if all you can do is imagine it’. Living now in Victoria, where she has returned to work and scuba diving, loves Thai and Indian food and says she enjoys an eclectic mix of folk/jazz or blues music. She plans to continue travelling the world and resume her passion for diving, trail walking and hiking. In fact, she aims to one day walk the Cradle Mountain track in Tasmania and go ice diving in the white sea.

She is a member of the NSF online forum because, “having somewhere to vent really helps, there's nothing like writing it down, both the good and the bad...”.

Now Heathber has joined the StrokeConnect Online Host Team where she will help each of us in our own stroke journeys. She says, “Life is good...” and I’m sure will show us with her experience and amazing attitude.

Welcome Heather!

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

Glen Reigo (nelg) lives in Melbourne with wife Margaret. He survived his stroke in August 1990 at the age of 43 years due to surgery for Aortic Valve replacement with a mechanical prosthesis. 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". He 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. He loves reading, public speaking, enjoys following the news & current affairs and is interested in sports & travelling. Glen says that his greatest achievement is re-learning to talk again post stroke and believes the most important thing to him is having a happy & healthy family.

It’s fantastic to have Glen’s involvement here as a member of this community & the StrokeConnect Online Team.

EMMA G

Emma (emma) began her stroke journey at 24 years of age during surgery to remove an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in her brainstem. She had previously worked full-time as an occupational therapist, was renting a house and was an avid long distance runner. After years of full-time stroke rehabilitation, she has returned to work at the Stroke Foundation in stroke support, building and developing StrokeConnect Online. Throughout her own recovery support has been (and still is) so important. She says “… I am determined to ensure that others feel heard and supported. I believe that this StrokeConnect Online will help do this!”

She loves to swim, regularly does yoga and spends a lot of her time with close family and friends and her dog, Gilbert. She strongly believes that one’s stroke journey is never-ending and hopes that in sharing her own stroke survival, others can benefit. In fact, the StrokeConnect Online community members continue to inspire and motivate her every day in her own recovery.