​Merseyside stroke survivor wins national courage award

Emma Raven, 37, from Bootle in Merseyside, has won a national courage award for her commitment to raising awareness of stroke after surviving her own stroke in 2014. Emma’s stroke caused her to miscarry her baby and left her with long-term disabililties.

The Stroke Association’s ‘Life After Stroke Adult Courage Award’ was presented to Emma by Michael Lynagh and Rudolph Walker, at a ceremony at the Landmark hotel in London on 21 November 2018.

On hearing that she had won a Life After Stroke Award, Emma said:

“I had tears in eyes and goose bumps everywhere. I am so happy and honoured and my family are so proud of me. I have a lot of people to thank, but without the Stroke Association I wouldn’t be doing the things I do now. I’m just determined to help others going through the same thing.”

Emma had a stroke in August 2014 just days after she found out she was pregnant following three years of IVF treatment. She was at work as a pharmacy dispensing assistant when she suddenly became ill and was rushed to hospital where doctors found that a bleed on her brain had caused her to have a stroke aged just 33.

Initially scans indicated that her baby was unharmed, but a couple of weeks later she miscarried. Emma’s stroke also left her with several long-term disabilities. Her vision and balance were severely affected and it caused a condition called aphasia, which affects her ability to speak, read and write. She was not able return to work and found coping with social situations a big challenge.

Emma said: ‘It was just devastating, we had been trying for a baby for so long. There are no words to describe what it was like, we were more than heartbroken. The stroke also made me a different person. I lost my confidence and I did not want to go out.”

Emma worked hard to adjust to her disabilities with the support of her family, particularly her mother Jan, and Stroke Association staff and groups. Her husband Paul kept her motivated: “When we married we promised to be there in sickness and in health. I know people whose partners have left them after a stroke, but Paul was always there encouraging me.”

In an effort to become more comfortable with meeting and talking to people again, Emma started attending the Stroke Association’s Merseyside Life After Stroke Group. Making friends with other stroke survivors, she decided that she wanted to do more to raise awareness of the charity and the condition. One of her first challenges was to raise funds doing a 150 foot abseil down the face of Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral.

Emma said: “It was terrifying but it was a very proud moment for me, probably one of the things I’m most proud of since my stroke. Doing it gave me the courage to take on other challenges.”

In 2017 Emma gave a speech at the Houses of Parliament to support the Stroke Association’s campaign for long-term stroke care. Despite her difficulties with communication and confidence she shared her story with an audience of over 50 MPs and Lords. Having faced her fear of speaking in public, she decided to do more campaigning and volunteered to become charity ambassador and travel the country giving talks.

Joanne Hall, a stroke support manager at the Stroke Association who nominated Emma for her award said: “Emma is more than a stroke survivor; she’s a campaigner, a fundraiser, a devoted wife, aunt and friend, she is an inspiration. She is so positive and passionate and is always thinking about how she can make a difference.She has worked tirelessly to promote stroke prevention by organising dozens of events showing the public how to lower their risk of stroke including having their blood pressure regularly checked. In fact, Emma never goes anywhere without stroke information leaflets.”

Michael Lynagh, who presented Emma with her award said: “It is a real joy to be asked to give Emma this award. She’s an extraordinary lady, she’s overcome so much, she has such warmth and vivacity and a star quality that just shines through. At present, there is still too little stroke awareness in the UK so the work that Emma is doing is incredibly valuable. I hope with her incredible energy it will not be long until more people recognise what a life-changing condition it can be.”

Emma is also supporting the Stroke Association’s Christmas appeal, ‘I am more than my stroke’. The appeal raises money so the charity can help more stroke survivors live with the impact of their stroke because it may have changed their lives but it doesn’t need to define who they are as person. Visit stroke.org.uk/iammore to make a donation.