Stroke stories

Stroke survivors, carers, friends and family share their personal experiences of stroke.

Clodagh's story
I had a brain stem stroke which left me with locked-in syndrome. It felt like I was a prisoner in my own body. Inside I was screaming but no one could hear me.
Grace's story
When I was 13 my mum had a stroke. When she came home from the hospital I became her full-time carer.
Stroke stories podcast
Listen to stroke survivors, friends and family on the stroke stories podcast. The podcast was created by stroke survivor and Life After Stroke Awards judge Mark Goodier.
Donna's story
Donna had two strokes just before her 51st birthday. She shares her story and why she decided to set up beauty workshops for stroke survivors.
Michael's story
Michael had two haemorrhagic strokes. Whilst he was physically unaffected, he suffers from fatigue and problems with his memory.
Chris' story
Chris had a stroke when he was 24, a week after the birth of his son. He explains how joining a stroke group helped his recovery.
Kate's story
My stroke left me with aphasia. It meant that I was unable to communicate with my husband before he passed away.
Santokh’s story
Santokh had a devastating stroke which left him with limited mobility and severe aphasia.
Neil's story
After my stroke I was completely numb. It was like being reborn and I had to learn everything yet again.
Nick's story
I used to be Chief Executive of the Institute of Financial Planning, but in 2013 I had a major stroke which left me with aphasia, a communication difficulty.
Amber's story
I had a massive stroke after my first year at university. The doctors told me I’d be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life, but I refused to accept it.
Neil's story
I was 13 when a rugby tackle led to me having a stroke three weeks later. It destroyed the speech centre in my brain. I've had to learn how to walk and talk again.
Tom's story
When I had my stroke the lights went out of me. I just wanted to be in total darkness – I had towels on my head to block out the light.
Simon's story
I always thought of strokes as either being ‘mild’ or ‘massive’ and fatal. My mum’s was massive but it wasn’t fatal.
Bryony's story
I had a stroke when I was 24. I couldn't walk or talk but I was determined not to accept this as my fate.
Dawn's story
Dawn Minker, had a stroke when she was a baby. But thinking she wouldn’t understand, her family decided not to tell her.