There is a group of people getting together to support each other. It’s a secret society – a special club – but it’s one that nobody wants to join.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The one thing they have in common – they are stroke survivors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As part of Stroke Awareness Week, Stroke Central Region held another meeting in Levin this week to highlight all the services and support available, and to help raise awareness of what a stroke was, how to prevent them, and how to diagnose them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The key message was that nobody is a stroke victim. There are only stroke survivors, and there was support services to help people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pip Hakaraia, 46, from Shannon, is a sales and advertising consultant and mother of four. And a stroke survivor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hakaraia had three strokes in the space of three years. The most recent was more serious, she said, and likened it to a complete crash that required a reboot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It came just days after the death of her mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I didn’t want to cause a scene. I just thought ‘I haven’t got time for this’,” she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hakaria said her speech was scrambled and she couldn’t get words out. She was taken to hospital, where scans showed she had had another stroke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But it touched on a key message for anybody having a stroke. Time. The rule of thumb out there in determining whether someone is having a stroke is FAST – Face, Arms, Speech, Time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although not visible on the outside, the effects of the stroke had forced changes to her every day life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most basic of tasks require concentration, like brushing her hair and teeth and putting on shoes, and folding washing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“People look at me and think ‘arrgh, she hasn’t had a stroke. She’s too young’,” she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“No one appreciates how hard it is to get up and get going in the morning. It’s actually quite nerve-racking.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although personal circumstances dictated she return to work, she was mindful of easing her way back to the fold and staying as calm as she could, in what could be a highly-charged environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“That’s one of the things about having a stroke when you are relatively young. You still have kids, mortgage, a job. Life goes on,” she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But she was making a great fist of her recovery and made an effort not to sweat the small stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“TIA’s are like glitches where a stroke is a complete crash and a reboot. I’m at the rebooting stage,” she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Some days are better than others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I just want to raise awareness that a stroke can affect anyone – young people too. You have got to listen to your body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“One thing I have noticed is that some people don’t know how to react to me, so they avoid me. But I’m still the same person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“You do think sometimes, why me? But there are a lot of people far worse off and I am lucky to have survived.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Waitarere Beach chef Satty Singh, 38, was sitting down using his phone one night in early December last year. He went to get up off the couch, and couldn’t walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He went to speak, and no words would come out. He realised he couldn’t raise his left hand either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I knew something was happening. I thought it must be nothing and people would be saying you’re too young to have a stroke,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The very next day he rang his doctor and was able to relay some of his symptoms. He said his doctor rang for an ambulance immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A CT scan revealed his brain had bled. He would spend the next 11 days in Palmerston North Hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“They were so quick, and so nice. They really helped me,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The last few months have been spent adjusting to life as a stroke survivor. Initially, he had to learn to walk again and still has regular physiotherapy sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He tires easily and sometimes struggles to get his words out, but considers himself lucky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I couldn’t walk initially and have managed to recover quite well physically. I was worried I wouldn’t,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“They say don’t overdo it, and I don’t want to. It will take time to recover.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was grateful for the support he was receiving from Stroke Central and participated with their different programmes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It’s not true that young people can’t have strokes,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stroke Central Region community partnerships officer Anne J\u00e4ger-Annear said the organisation was there to help people through prevention messages and help facilitate the different programmes of support for stroke survivors and their families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There were a range of services, including meetings, group chats, online support, cafe groups, guest speakers and access to other community services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stroke Central Region field officer Bronwyn Glavin said the FAST message was so important. If anyone was suffering a stroke they should ring 111.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more info visit www.strokecentral.org.nz<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
To learm more about our campaign, the events and our partners, visit https:\/\/www.strokecentral.org.nz\/dont-be-the-one\/<\/a> or follow us on facebook for any news and updates https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dontbetheonenz\/<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n