​Macclesfield stroke survivor shares her first glimmer of hope

Karen Platt, 61 from Macclesfield, is supporting the Stroke Association’s ‘Hope After Stroke’ Christmas appeal, after surviving a life-changing stroke while driving.

Former Finance Manager Karen, said: “I was working three days a week as my mum had been diagnosed with terminal cancer so I was helping look after her. I’d struggled with severe headaches for months, but doctors couldn’t diagnose what was wrong and I was waiting to see a neurologist.”

On the day of her stroke, Karen was driving to her local garden centre when she lost consciousness, explaining: “I hit a parked vehicle and came around when my car was flying upwards; all I could see was sky through the front windscreen. The car flipped and then rolled several times before coming upside down, about 30 metres away in the opposite direction. I had cuts from the glass and had fractured my sternum. The noise of the smashing, rolling and tumbling was horrendous, I had flashbacks for years.”

Karen was taken to hospital and was told by the consultant that she’d had a stroke and was very lucky to be alive.

Karen said: “I never thought it was a stroke because I didn’t have typical FAST symptoms. As terrifying as it was, it was a relief to hear and understand why I’d had such intense painful headaches. Apparently it had been happening over a period of time.”

Karen was living in Bury at the time and was transferred to her local stroke unit at Fairfield Hospital. Sadly, her mother passed away just three days into her stay. Karen lost her peripheral vision, she could not walk unaided due to left sided weakness and loss of balance, and her speech was affected.

She added: “I started to stutter and stammer massively, then my voice became very high pitched, which lasted for about six weeks. I thought it’d be like that forever. Fortunately it gradually changed back to my normal voice. The vision specialist actually told me I’ll never get my eyesight back, because it was nerve damage. When I was in the stroke unit, I had full feeling in both legs so I thought I was fine. When staff got me up to try and walk my legs just buckled form underneath me. I just remember sobbing.

“My glimmer of hope was achieving small milestones. I was determined not to lose my IT skills because it was such a huge part of my life and career. I was so determined for that one thing not to leave me. I asked my daughter Mel to bring my iPad into the hospital. I couldn’t even remember how to switch it on. But with time it clicked and I got back into it. The peripheral vision problem wasn’t a hindrance because I had tunnel vision looking at a screen.

“I also got a motorised scooter and at first I have to admit, I ended up in floods of tears. I thought is this it, is this my life? I wept like a baby for about half an hour and then drove home. The next day I did it again until I got my confidence. That was a massive step. Eventually I upgraded to a road worthy scooter and there was no stopping me!”

Now, after intense therapy and a lot of determination, Karen is able to walk unaided, she has regained her sight and met her husband Clive, marrying in Congleton in 2018.

She added: “The wedding day was just amazing. Everybody said it was the best wedding they’d ever been to.

“I’ve had a couple of mini strokes since and now I’m waiting to hear if I should have vascular surgery to prevent another major stroke. Everything changes after a stroke, you will never be the same again, just a new version of you. I lost my mum, my dog, my car, my job, my liberty. There were times when I felt incredible sorry for myself. There are still some days when I can hardly walk, speak and I’m dizzy. I just go and sleep it off and I know tomorrow is going to be different.”

Karen is asking people to make a donation to the Stroke Association’s work supporting survivors and their families, as they rebuild their lives this Christmas.

Kate Charles, Regional Director at the Stroke Association said: “When someone’s life has been shattered by stroke, they may feel all hope is gone. But we also know that stroke survivors cling onto even the smallest glimmer of hope. This is what powers them on to achieve what many thought would be impossible. I’ve heard so many stories of remarkable people making recoveries even 20 years after their stroke.”

The charity estimates that there are over 4,700 people living with the effects of stroke in East Cheshire, while around 100,000 people have a stroke in the UK every year.

• “This pandemic has had a serious impact on our ability to raise funds through our usual community events and activities. Many people in our support services have praised the support they received from the Stroke Association, to build on that first glimmer of hope so that they could rebuild their lives after stroke. Hope might be found in a call to our Helpline; through the friendship and support of our online community; or the ongoing support of our Stroke Association Support Coordinators. Rebuilding lives is impossible without hope. And that’s why we’re asking everyone in Macclesfieldto donate to the Stroke Association and help give someone the gift of hope this Christmas.”

To donate or for more information about stroke and the vital role that hope plays in stroke recovery and rebuilding lives, please visit www.stroke.org.uk/hope