On the morning of 7th August 2024, I woke feeling unwell. All day, I felt that something was wrong. After my daughter finished school, I asked her to call my mum. Soon after, an ambulance arrived, and I walked to it, fully aware of my surroundings.
Once at the hospital, things began to change. I started losing my speech gradually. I was talking to my daughter, and then everything suddenly went pear-shaped. I never got my voice back. From February to November, I was mostly bed-bound. I spent 12 weeks in GWH before returning home with carers to help me manage.
In November, I went back to the hospital with a UTI. Because of where I lived, I was airlifted over my neighbour’s balcony — though I don’t recall this myself; a friend told me about it.
Following that, I was admitted to BIRU in Bristol, where I spent Christmas 2024 through April 2025 relearning to walk. Doctors believe I have something called white matter disease, which likely caused my speech loss the first time. They also think I had a stroke, possibly related to the stress and grief of my dad passing in 2020.
Today, I walk with a walking aid, and my journey has been shaped with grief and resilience — my mum passed away in August 2025. I couldn’t cry at the time because I was on antidepressants,
During this time, Lou and Caroline from Headway visited me at home to see if I would like to attend. I decided to come, and I’m so glad I did. I enjoy being part of Headway and have made new friends, finding support, laughter, and connection along the way.
