This month I have had the privilege of meeting and interviewing some amazing people, modern day super heroes.
I had to find 10 people who’d had a stroke for a film project for Gutsy.tv. There are many types of Strokes but we have specifically been working with ones caused by Atrial fibrillation (AF), which is basically an irregular heartbeat. It is a treatable condition but first, you have to know you have it and second, get to a heart specialist to get it treated.
Megan was 27 in 2013, when she had her stroke. She had no sign of AF, it only showed up on examination, after her stroke. Megan lost movement and control down her right side and was very poorly for a long time, but through sheer determination she taught herself to ride a bike, initially by tying her hand to the handlebar! She is now training with team GB’s Para cycling team for the Rio Olympics in 2016.
Chris had his stroke in 2010, aged 29. He had a high powered global role in his job and exercised regularly. He had noticed his heart going into irregular beating for anything from a few minutes to an hour or so. Eventually he went to see his GP, who referred him to a specialist. Unfortunately it was too late and Chris had 2 strokes before he got to his appointment.
The stroke completely debilitated Chris – he had to learn to talk again and the lost the use of his right side. I’ve learnt strokes are like fingerprints, no two are ever the same.
When we met Chris he was determined that we didn’t see him as a victim. He has a new job which he loves and we found out he is very highly respected there. One evening when we went to visit him he took us to a local indoor climbing wall. He hadn’t climbed since before the stroke. He climbed without the use of his right hand, showing us the determination and stubbornness to succeed, that we’d also seen in Megan.
He eventually got to the top of the wall.
I hope to take a leaf from their book and now believe anything is possible if you want it enough and are prepared to put the work in.
