Stroke robbed Somerset teacher of the career she loved

A primary school teacher from Nailsea was unable to return to the job she loved after a devasting stroke aged 44.

Sarah Luxton’s stroke left her with a wide range of physical and emotional difficulties which means she can no longer work.

Now she’s backing a Stroke Association campaign - released to mark World Stroke Day on 29 October - to make more people aware that stroke can happen at any age, with a quarter happening to those of working age.

Sarah was a Year three teacher at Fairfield School in Backwell, Bristol, when she had a rare type of stroke caused by a tear in her brain stem in October 2020.

“I had been in the school office with the Head and Secretary discussing the Christmas party and Covid restrictions,” said Sarah. “I felt what I thought was a crick in the neck but didn't think anything of it.

“I went back up to my classroom to do some work. I felt fine. Some minutes passed and I started to feel unwell. I thought I was having a migraine. I mentioned this to a colleague who was with me and then began to feel worse.

“I began slumping to the right-hand side. She came over to me and offered to get me a drink of water which I agreed to. When I took this from her and tried to drink it but I had lost all ability to swallow. I was beginning to freak out.”

By the time paramedics arrived Sarah was unable to stand. She was rushed to the Bristol Royal Infirmary where her stroke was diagnosed. She spent three weeks in the BRI then nearly four receiving rehab at the South Bristol Community Hospital.

She was given extended sick leave from school and hoped that she would be able to return but eventually came the realisation that this wouldn’t be possible.

“It was absolutely heartbreaking,” said Sarah. “I loved my job; it was all I ever wanted to do.”

“When growing up I used to imagine what it would be like to take the register in class, I would dream that the teacher would ask me to do this.

“I had taught for just over 20 years and loved it. Being with the children, learning from them, imparting knowledge, it was my everything.

“I have taught in independent schools for my whole career; in Germany for five years and locally for the rest. My most recent school was perfect; small enough to still be considered almost a village primary with a real family feel.

“I can’t do what I was able to do. I struggle with mobility. The focus, the concentration, the stamina. I just couldn’t do it. I wouldn’t want to put any child at risk.”

The effects of the stroke include muscle weakness, fatigue, eyesight problems, swallowing and breathing difficulties, difficulty reading and writing, and depression.

“My body is like a harlequin,” said Sarah. “The two sides are at odds with each other. I have no feeling or temperature gauge on my left side which is very scary as I have burned and cut myself on a number of occasions but not known I’ve done it.

“My brother Wayne was with me in the kitchen once and I asked why he was shouting at me? He said: ‘You’ve got your finger in the flame of the gas!’ Then I Iooked down and saw the big blister forming. It was very scary.

“On the right side, the nerve endings are almost hypersensitive. There are occasions where I’ve got bruises and I’ve got no idea how or when it happened.

“Recently I was chopping vegetables and saw blood on the board. I’d cut my finger and hadn’t realised it.

“I have no feeling whatsoever in my right eye. I can see out of it but no tears flow. It’s like I’ve been to the dentist and the anesthetic hasn’t worn off.

“I cannot eat very hot or cold food because I can’t gauge the temperature.

“The shower is set to a certain temperature so that I don’t burn myself.

“However the brain works, the cross pathways are all mixed up and tangled.”

Sarah’s stroke was a rarer type known as a right side Lateral Medullary Syndrome, or tear in the brain stem.

“The tear has not mended and the medics do not know what caused it. It could have been just a weakness. It’s so small, they’ve never talked about operations to mend it.”

Sarah likes to keep active and volunteers at Nailsea Stroke Survivors Club.

“I love to take part in craft activities. I fuse glass and have my very own ‘She Shed’ where I escape to and make my creations. I love anything crafty and will just give it a go. To me it doesn’t matter if things don’t always work out, I just like to ‘play’

“I have two cats Poppy and Willow that I adore and love spending time with my husband, Will. We’ve been dealt a hard hand but he’s supported me throughout without any hesitation.

“He’s caring and understanding but will keep me grounded and put me in my place when needed. He definitely knows when to remind me of how things could have been much worse.

The Stroke Association survey showed that over half of stroke survivors said their stroke had negatively impacted their careers, stopped them getting a job, being promoted or changing career.

Jackie Cuthbert, the charity’s associate director for the South West and the Channel Islands, said: “Our research highlights that people still think stroke is a condition that only affects older people. It’s crucial that we challenge this misconception and make people aware that stroke affects younger adults too.

“After a stroke, life changes in a flash. Two thirds of people who survive a stroke find themselves living with a disability. As a result, young stroke survivors are having important milestones and their planned futures stolen from them, while they have to learn to adapt to their new life affected by stroke.

“If you know a stroke survivor of any age, visit stroke.org.uk/worldstrokeday to find out more about support available.”