Sir,
I write to urge readers to consider nominating a stroke survivor for the Stroke Association’s Life After Stroke Awards, a charity for which I am a patron.
Just like many readers, I know how stroke can turn a life upside down in an instant. In 2009, I went to bed with a dreadful headache and woke up with no sensation in my left hand and very little feeling in my face. At the hospital, they confirmed that I’d had a stroke.
I was unable to return home for three months and, even then, I struggled to write and speak. The hardest thing was being told I could never drive again because of my impaired vision. But, thanks to the fantastic support I received, I’m still here.
The Stroke Association’s Life After Stroke Awards celebrate the courage and dedication shown by stroke survivors, carers, volunteers and healthcare professionals who overcome the extra challenges that a stroke brings.