​Local Lincolnshire family go to Westminster to voice their opinion on stroke

A local stroke survivor John Smejka and his wife Paula were invited to speak at the All Party Parliamentary Group on Stroke in the House of Commons in December to raise awareness of stroke in younger peopleand discuss the benefits of being involved in medical research into stroke.

John Smejka, 57, from Navenby in Lincolnshire, had a devastating stroke in 2011, just 3 months before he and his now wife Paula, were due to get married. John’s stroke left him with communication difficulties and right sided weakness, which meant he had to use a wheelchair and needed 24 hour care.

When John had his stroke, not only did his life change, but his partner Paula’s life changed as she became his carer. Paula adds, “John was super-energetic and fit, and within an instant, everything changed – and as John’s life had completely changed, so had mine. John and I were due to get married in six months’ time when he had his stroke, but all of a sudden our worlds felt as if they completely stopped.”

Despite the effects of the stroke John and Paula chose to use their experience of stroke by becoming involved in a number of research studies aimed at improving care for other people who have had a stroke especially those with communication difficulties.

Paula adds, “There are so many stroke survivors in the UK, with many different difficulties, finding new ways to recover from stroke is important to everyone. Being involved in medical research not only helped John improve his communication techniques but also his confidence and will to confront the difficulties the stroke has left him with. Research has given purpose to my husband’s life, structure to his weeks and hope for his future. I would encourage anyone who might be interested in supporting stroke research to find out more about how they can get involved.”

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Stroke which brings together MPs and members of the House of Lords to consider the latest developments in stroke care was holding a special meeting to look at the importance of funding medical research into stroke.

John, Paula and Paula’s son, Cameron who’s 15 years old, all attended the meeting and shared their experience of stroke and the benefits of being involved in stroke research.

The meeting also discussed evidence from the Stroke Association which highlighted the fact that despite stroke being one of the biggest killers in UK and the leading cause of adult disability, funding per person for research into the condition is about one fifth the comparable spend on cancer, and less than half the comparable spend on dementia.

The Minister for Life Sciences, George Freeman, also spoke at the meeting about the Government’s plans for supporting research into conditions like stroke and commended the Smejka family for their involvement in this area.

Paula adds, “Our visit to Westminster was so interesting. Hearing the Stroke Association speak about the findings of their forthcoming report on stroke made me want to stamp my feet – it seemed so unfair! But the Stroke Association made it very clear that there is hope, which was really promising to hear. I especially felt positive about the potential future research projects and what they could do for our next generation. It was also encouraging that the Government Minister with responsibility for medical research was present at the meeting and that we had the opportunity to put our views on stroke and the need for further research into new treatments directly to him. Everyone from the Stroke Association looked after us on the day and made us feel so welcome, relaxed and very much part of the team.”

Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Stroke, MP for Warrington North Helen Jones MP said, “We were delighted to welcome the Smejka family to Westminster to inform Parliamentarians about the importance of research into new treatments and therapies for stroke. They have put so much into using what has been a devastating experience to help improve care for others in a similar situation and they deserve all of our thanks. It is clear that stroke research remains underfunded compared to other conditions but members of our Group in Parliament are determined to ensure that stroke receives a higher priority in the future so that people like John and his family are able to receive the best possible care and support after stroke”

If you would like more information about getting involved in stroke research please visit:www.stroke.org.uk/research/get-involved