Hampshire stroke survivor adds her voice to Lost for Words campaign

Farnborough stroke survivor Louise Perry, 44, is one of the thousands of people living with communication difficulties after a stroke.

Louise, a mother of two, had a severe stroke in November 2014, and as a result was initially only able to say the word ‘yes’. Louise spent six weeks in hospital recovering, and with the support of the Stoke Association, her speech gradually returned. Louise has now returned to work as an Accounts Administrator.

Louise said: “Imagine having that feeling of knowing exactly what you want to say, but not remembering the word. That’s what life is like for me every day. Sometimes the word feels as though it’s at the tip of my tongue, but I just can’t get to it. It’s so frustrating.

“In the weeks after my stroke my two boys were only four and six years old. All I wanted to do was reassure them that everything would be OK, but I couldn’t.

“I’ve had some horrible experiences with shop assistants over the years, which can be really emotional. That’s why I’m very passionate about raising awareness of aphasia, so others know more about the condition, and how they can help someone with it. For me, I wish that people would realise that I can still understand them, and that they can still speak to me. I also want others to know that if they slowed down when they speak, and give me time to answer, it would be very helpful.

“My husband Adrian has been my rock. He’s done so much for me, I’m so lucky to have him and my boys by my side. The Stoke Association’s support has been fantastic too – it’s helped me to meet other people who are in the same situation as me.”

The Stroke Association’s Lost for Words campaign aims to raise awareness of the challenges stroke survivors with communication difficulties can face, and help and support available.

Samantha Malkin, Communication Support Coordinator at the Stroke Association, said: “After a stroke, around one in three people like Louise have difficulty communicating, which can be both terrifying and isolating. But with the right help and support, many stroke survivors are able to find new ways to communicate, and can rebuild their lives. Louise attended our Communication Workshops in Farnborough after her stroke, we were able to work directly with her and she was able to meet other stroke survivors in the group. She has gone from strength to strength, I’m so proud of her recovery.”

More than 350,000 people in the UK have aphasia, a communication disability which can be caused by stroke. The Stroke Association is urging people to show their support for stroke survivors who are lost for words and make a donation. For more information, visit www.stroke.org.uk/lostforwords.