Sarah's story

Sarah Stead's life was turned upside down by stroke.

“I felt trapped inside my body. I knew that everything that was 'me' was still there, but I couldn't communicate. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through.”

“But not being able to communicate was the hardest part. I felt very lonely and very isolated. I cried quite a bit actually. It was just so frustrating.”

Sarah felt “trapped” inside her own body. She didn’t know who to turn to for information and support. She couldn’t even pick up the phone to make appointments with her specialists.

“I wasn’t able to ring anyone, talk to anyone, because no one would understand me. There was no way I could have phoned someone and explained, ‘Hi, my name is Sarah. I’ve had a stroke so please excuse me if I jumble my words’.”

The stroke was really hard on her husband Eric too. He did his best to remain optimistic and keep up a routine for the kids, all the while struggling with his own grief and fears.

And in the midst of all this confusion and uncertainty, Sarah and Eric also had their unborn baby to think about:

“Eric and I were very concerned. The maternity team did their best to reassure us about everything, let us know as much as they could about the risks and things like that, but of course we were scared. We didn’t know what to expect.”

Sarah was also worried about what kind of a mum she could be to two-year-old Reuben and 4-year-old Isabella. Sarah recalls how badly the stroke affected little Reuben especially:

“He really suffered. Even after I came home, if we drove past the hospital he would burst into tears. He thought I was going back to stay for good. It obviously really affected him.”

Everything Sarah had taken for granted about her future, all the plans she and Eric had made, was suddenly thrown into turmoil.

Sarah had so many unanswered questions. Would she ever be able to hold a normal conversation again? Would she be able to go back to work as a teacher? Would she even be able to pick up her kids and hug them?

Big questions indeed – and just where could Sarah and her family turn for answers? An answer came in the form of Community Stroke Navigator, Linda Williams.

After someone like Sarah has experienced a debilitating stroke, the support of a Community Stroke Navigator is vital.  As experts in post-stroke assessment and rehabilitation, they understand what stroke survivors like Sarah need and who they can turn to for help.....