Most of my readers will be aware that I am a stroke survivor.

Without having any of the symptoms mentioned in the F.A. S.T. stroke awareness adverts; just the mother of all headaches ( which wasn’t unusual for me). I suffered a massive stroke in 2007, which has left me disabled wheelchair user, with left-sided weakness more here

It took me several years to come to terms with what happened; I hoped to get back to my beloved child minding career in the not too distant future.

My husband still hasn’t come to terms with the fact that I am still able to talk, extremely well!

Once I came to accept my new life, things started to improve.

My husband, who became my carer ( for which I am truly grateful) purchased an electric scooter for me and I started to use this when we went out together. My grandson, Kyle, loved to ride on my lap, steer the scooter and look out for traffic . He loved to turn it up to full speed ( which I wasn’t so keen on, especially if we were going down hill!).

As time went on I found a smaller electric wheelchair more user friendly than the large scooter as I could manoeuvre it in smaller places, such as cafes and shops.

My sister, Kim, would take me out on her day off, walking beside me, as we chatted together.

One day I asked her to let me go on ahead to see how I got on alone,

This gave me a new confidence, I did some research and found a local company; Driving Miss. Daisy. Barnstaple who would take me in their vehicle whilst sitting in my wheelchair more here

The first time that I went around my local town alone I was quite nervous, but I did it and that gave me the confidence to do more.

The best thing I have done was to apply for a bus pass ( as a disabled person this was free and allows me to travel on the bus for free read more about my experience here

I regularly use the bus now to get into town where I meet up with friends for a coffee.

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Before stroke I was a keen horse rider and started to do this again thanks to the help of The Calvert trust, Exmoor here

I have also volenteered at local toddler groups and been into a shool to listen to the children read ( which was right up my street) more here

By far, the best thing that has happened since stroke is that earlier this year I was rehomed into an adapted bungalow. Read more about my achievements since then here.

Other things that I have done are helping to bath a friend’s horse from my wheelchair, play outside with children and organise a surprise birthday meal for my husband during a pandemic.

I am hoping that other stroke survivors and disabled people will be inspired by this post.

Being a stroke survivor is still living a life; it’s just not the life that I had planned.

As always questions and comments are welcome.

Until next time.

Karen

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