22 year old stroke survivor brings stroke awareness to Bucks community

Sara Ladyman from Aylesbury in Bucks had four strokes last Boxing Day. While continuing with her recovery, she is determined to raise awareness and vital funds to support people affected by stroke. Thanks to Sara, the Buckingham Street Sainsbury’s in Aylesbury has adopted the Stroke Association as their charity of the year from 4 August 2014.

Through this year-long charity partnership, the Stroke Association will run free information and blood pressure checking days in the store, as well as host charity collections, information stands and many other activities.

Just after Christmas, Sara was about to have a bath when she felt a tingling and then numbness in her right side. She explained: “I knew something was really wrong so I shouted for my mum but no words came out, only noise. I just managed to get the door open when the feeling in my right leg went and I collapsed to the floor. I was put into the recovery position and an ambulance was called. They did a brain scan at High Wycombe Hospital which found that I had four strokes caused by a clot in my brain which had broken into four lumps. Even though I had been fully conscious and knew it was a stroke, it was still an incredible shock when the doctor told me.”

“Over the past seven months I have learnt how to walk, use my right side and talk. I am nearly back to normal except I stumble on words and suffer with fatigue. I returned to work in March at Sainsbury’s and had fantastic support from them and my friends and family. I hope to return to university in October to finish my degree in psychology with criminology.”

It is thought that Sara’s stroke was caused by a hole in her heart and an infection which have now been resolved through surgery and antibiotics. The Stroke Association estimates there are around 1,150 strokes in Bucks each year and nearly 8,000 stroke survivors living in the county. High blood pressure contributes to half of strokes and is the biggest controllable risk factor for the condition so it is important that people know their blood pressure and check it regularly.

Gillian Barnett from the Stroke Association in Buckinghamshire said: “We’re very grateful to Sara for her support. This is a really exciting partnership and we’re delighted to be working with Sainsbury’s to help share vital messages about stroke awareness and build relationships with our community. A stroke can happen to anyone at any time so we’re really keen that people use the FAST test to spot a stroke and dial 999 to give the best possible chance of recovery. The Aylesbury Sainsbury’s store employs around 90 members of staff and sees 19,000 customers a week, so this is a great opportunity to share some of the simple steps we can all take to reduce our chances of stroke and spot it if it happens to someone we love.”

Thanks to support from Buckinghamshire County Council, the Stroke Association is currently working with 181 stroke survivors and their families who have had their lives turned upside down by stroke through its Bucks Stroke Support Service. This Service provides Information Advice and Support to people affected as well Expert Stroke Programme* information sessions. More information about this Service is available on 0300 3300 761.

The Expert Stroke Programme is provided in blocks of support. The free sessions will take place at the following times.

1) Buckingham Park Community Centre (North Aylesbury) – 9.30am to 12pm, 17 and 24 September and 1, 8, 15 and 22 October.
2) Stoke Mandeville Community Centre (South Aylesbury) 9am to 1pm on 11, 18, 25 November and 2, 9 and 16 December. 3) Buckingham Park Community Centre 2pm-4.30pm 23 February 2015 and 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 March.