​Derbyshire stroke survivor makes remarkable recovery and scoops major award

A father from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, has scooped a national Life After Stroke Award (LASA) for his remarkable bravery, following a life-changing stroke. Mark Ellis, 27, was presented with award by Martin Lewis and Tamsin Greig at a star-studded ceremony, hosted by the Stroke Association in London, on Thursday 25 June 2015.

In 2010, Mark was having the time of his life. Aged 22, he had just got married and his wife, Amy, was pregnant with their first child. Just two weeks after the birth of Lola-Rose, Mark had a major stroke. This is when his life began to fall apart.

Mark says: “My stroke came completely out of the blue. I was young and healthy, having never smoked, taken drugs or drank excessively. I was a new father and in an instant, my world came crashing down.”

The stroke left Mark with locked-in syndrome. This meant he could only communicate by rolling his eyes for ‘yes’ and down for ‘no’. Doctors described Mark’s stroke as the worst they had seen and his wife Amy made the agonising decision to sign a ‘do not resuscitate’ form, as doctors said Mark’s heart would probably give up. Mark fell into a coma and his life was hanging in the balance. His family were also told the devastating news that he may never walk again.

With a new-born daughter he had hardly seen, Mark was determined to prove the doctors wrong and vowed to do whatever it took to recover. He eventually broke out of his locked-in syndrome and eight months later, Mark was able to return home. He was forced to give up work as a sales consultant at Carphone Warehouse and Amy left her job as a hairdresser to care, full-time, for Mark and their daughter.

Having been reunited with his wife and daughter, Mark discovered a new-found zest for life. He learned to walk and eat again by mimicking the actions of Lola-Rose, when she took her first steps, and began using his iPad to communicate, having lost the ability to speak.

Four-and-a-half years on, Mark’s progress has astounded medical staff. He is learning how to cook again and with the aid of a whiteboard, helps Lola-Rose with her spelling. He has also regained some of the independence he lost after buying a mobility scooter, using a Life After Stroke Grant from the Stroke Association. Last year, thanks to his single-minded determination, Mark achieved his long-term goal of collecting his daughter from school.

Mark, who was joined by his wife Amy at the awards ceremony says: “The day I was able to collect Lola-Rose from school was a dream come true for me. I had missed out on so many things that people take granted. Thanks to my beautiful wife and daughter I’ve come such a long way and regained the ability to do things I never thought I would. I’m so honoured to receive this award and I hope stroke survivors and their families can draw strength from my story.”

Jon Barrick, Chief Executive of the Stroke Association, said: “The road to recovery has been long and hard for Mark. He’s shown extraordinary courage and tenacity under unimaginably difficult circumstances and his refusal to give up has helped him to slowly rebuild his life. His story is nothing short of remarkable. He’s an inspiration to us all.”

Sophie Dawson, Information, Advice and Support Coordinator at the Stroke Association, who nominated Mark for the award, said: “In my role, I have the privilege of meeting many remarkable people, but I’ve never met anyone quite like Mark. I’ve been blown away by his courage and strength in the face of such adversity. He’s truly inspirational and is a worthy winner of this award.”

The Stroke Association’s Life After Stroke Awards, sponsored by TONI&GUY Charitable Foundation, recognise the courage shown by stroke survivors and carers, as well as the great work and commitment shown by health professionals, groups and supporter organisations. The Adult Courage (18- 64) category was sponsored by Waverton Investment Management.

More information on the Life After Stroke Awards and short films about the winners, including Mark’s story, can be found at www.stroke.org.uk/lasa.