August is stroke awareness month. This is Jessica's story ...

Posted on 1 August, 2024 On the night of 16 January 2024, a searing headache woke me.

Assuming it was a bad migraine, I took paracetamol, but it was so intense that the medication didn’t help. By early morning, the pain persisted, and I was no longer able to walk. My headache was now accompanied by vomiting. Realising something was wrong, I begged my husband to call an ambulance.

Within minutes, the ambulance arrived and diagnosed me with a stroke. Strokes occur when the brain is deprived of oxygen, which happens when there is a bleed or when a clot cuts off blood flow. At Canberra Hospital, the medical team acted immediately with a CT scan followed by an MRI, which confirmed a haemorrhagic stroke. Although I was familiar with the term from my studies in Speech Therapy, I had no idea of the profound impact strokes could have. They are the leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting one in four people, and are also the leading cause of death for women globally.

Unfortunately, the bleed was too deep in the brain to operate on, and within 48 hours it caused a left side paralysis, with speech difficulties, facial weakness, dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), and double vision. This meant that I was going to spend months in the University of Canberra’s Rehabilitation Hospital.

It took a while to accept the diagnosis as it was so unexpected. Up until then, I had led a great life living in different countries, teaching in wonderful schools living with my husband and two young boys. I had recently paused my teaching career to become a speech pathologist. I kept wondering, how could this happen?

The following weeks were marked by tears and disbelief at my left side’s lack of function and fear that I would never regain mobility. Luckily, I quickly regained my speech and ability to swallow, my vision slowly returned to normal, but my left side remained unresponsive. I worked intensely, five hours a day, seven days a week, driven by my desperation to reclaim my identity as both a mother and a woman.

After two months of intensive therapy, I was able to go home, though still reliant on a wheelchair. With the support of my husband, children, sisters and parents—who flew from overseas to be by my side—I gradually adjusted to my new reality. My licence had been suspended post-stroke, a jarring blow to my sense of freedom. I depended entirely on friends and family for the first month home.

After three months, I finally regained mobility. I recently passed my driving test which is a big step toward regaining my independence. I am easing back to part time work and my studies and even if my rehabilitation will be a lifelong one, I feel very lucky to be where I am now and strive to embrace life’s blessings with gratitude.

Reflecting on my journey, I am deeply grateful for the kindness shown by others. My co-workers at Canberra Girls Grammar School organised weekly meals for my family, and my hospital room was filled with love hearts from my students. Daily visits from friends and family overwhelmed me with love and support. Canberra is truly an amazing place!

This experience taught me the profound impact of community support. It also highlighted the value of resilience and the strength we find within ourselves during adversity. Life can change in an instant, and while we can’t always control what happens, we can control how we respond.

Never take your health or loved ones for granted and cherish every moment of normalcy and joy. During Stroke Awareness Month this August, recognising the signs of a stroke is vital, as acting quickly can save lives and greatly improve recovery outcomes.