​Teen stroke survivor’s family urges residents to support the Stroke Association

Elly Milton, a 19 year old stroke survivor from Murdishaw, and her family are inviting local residents to come along to a Give a Hand and Bake event, to raise vital funds for the Stroke Association.

The Stroke Association wants people across the UK to roll up their sleeves, grab a mixing bowl and host a bake salefrom 28 October - 3 November 2019.

The Give a Hand and Bake event will be held at Elly’s place of work, the Evenwood Farm Pub in Runcorn, on Friday 01 November from 10am-12pm. Local residents can enjoy a cuppa and a slice of cake to raise money for the charity.

Elly had a life-changing stroke in June this year, just after passing her first year of psychology at Liverpool Hope University with flying colours.

After finishing her shift at the Evenwood Pub, Elly returned home to her parents, when after saying goodnight, her mother Marie Milton popped into the living room to check on her. She found Elly awake but unresponsive on the sofa.

Marie said: “I screamed for my husband John, who was trying to shake her to wake her up. He saw Elly’s arm was floppy and her face had dropped, and he knew immediately that she’d had a stroke.”

Elly was taken to Whiston Hospital where she was given the clot busting drug, thrombolysis. After her stroke, she was unable to speak or move.

Marie added: “It was terrifying. I could see the tears rolling down Elly’s face.”

However, Elly’s brain was swelling and she was taken to the Walton Centre to have an urgent craniotomy to reduce the pressure on her brain.

Marie added: “We were told we could lose her if she didn’t have the surgery. Afterwards, we were advised she wouldn’t be able to walk, talk or do anything.”

Elly was in critical care and on life support for 16 hours, before being moved to Whiston Hospital for investigations into the cause of the stroke. She is now recovering in St Helens Hospital where she is undergoing intensive physiotherapy. Elly and her family have also received support from the Stroke Association’s Stroke Recovery Service in Halton, as she rebuilds her life.

Marie said: “Elly is now proving the doctors wrong and learning to walk again. Her right arm is starting to get flickers of life. She has pure determination and is pushing herself all the time. Now she says words, not always the right words, but little sentences are coming together. She is also able to come home at weekends.”

Elly will attend the Give a Hand and Bake Sale at Evenwood, which is a huge milestone in her recovery.

Marie said: “While she didn’t want to see anyone to begin with, she is slowly starting to get her confidence back. There are a lot of people coming to the event so it’s going to be a huge step for her. I’m in awe of her, she’s just amazing and she has already come so far. She never feels sorry for herself, not one day.

“We’d love for local people in Runcorn to come to the event and show their support. Whether you’d like to bake a cake or just buy a piece, everyone is welcome.”

Helen Latham, Regional Fundraising Manager at the Stroke Association, said: “Give a Hand and Bake is a fun and delicious way to support our charity’s work.

“Every five minutes, stroke destroys lives and it can strike anyone – young, old and anyone in between. The Stroke Association is here to support people to rebuild their lives after stroke, but this is only possible with the generosity of our amazing supporters. That’s why we’re calling on as many people as possible to get involved.”

“We’d love people in Runcorn to bake up a storm and support the event for Elly. It really doesn’t matter if you bake a showstopper or buy one, we just want people to get together with family and friends, have fun and raise money to help more stroke survivors like Elly in Runcorn and beyond.”

To get involved, visit www.stroke.org.uk/bakeand sign up for a Give a Hand and Bake fundraising pack.