Ann Griffiths

If I’d known then what I know now!

In 1999 (aged 27) my boyfriend and I moved in together in a stunning location in Wiltshire. As a young couple with our own house, we both lived the high life. I landed a pretty exceptional job working for a pharmaeuctical company in Newbury, Berkshire and was getting paid well – I travelled every day by train to my job. Prior to the dreaded day, 31st May 2000, we both had a wild weekend partying etc and I went back to work after the bank holiday, on a Tuesday.

Anyway, I was at work sat down working when I suddenly felt faint and my legs and arms felt very heavy. I shouted “Deb” who was the First Aider. From that moment I remember lying on the floor where my work colleagues tried various things to get me to stand up and use my legs. In hindsight I think they were at a loss what to do. Eventually they asked me my boyfriends’ telephone number so they could ask him what they should do – the only number I could remember is my parents. So they rang my mum and now I know they told her I was acting drunk – did I drink? Next I wanted the toilet so they wheeled me on a swivel chair apparently, where Deb pulled down my pants to pee. They stood outside the toilet but I must have been leaning on one of my legs because I was standing up and looking in the mirror when I saw the left side of my face drop. Then the ambulance arrived and I got carted off to hospital – the ambulance man kindly held my hand. I knew I had had a stroke – I just knew.

At the hospital I must have slept because next thing there was Claire (my boss) sat beside me. I told her don’t let me end up like a cabbage. The staff kept coming back asking questions because they couldn’t understand why I had had a stroke – the last question was “Have you taken drugs”. Oh dear, naughty Ann had – cannabis at the weekend.

Eventually my Dad arrived I got carted off for a scan on my head where they discovered an aneurysm in my brain. However, it hadn’t burst or clotted!. I went to Oxford for angiogram and then back to Berkshire for rehabilitation for 5 months. During that time I was told all sorts could of triggered it including my drug taking and wild partying. I was taken back to Oxford where they had a pioneering procedure of clipping the aneurysm so it didn’t cause further problems. The last time they tried clipping it again, 9/11, it was unsuccessful so they abandoned it. Then I got referred to a Mr Nelson in Bristol to discuss surgery to bypass the aneurysm and cut it out. The second time I saw him he gave me two weeks to decide if I wanted full blown brain surgery! After nearly bolting the country (so to speak) I agreed to the operation, as I trusted this surgeon. I was in for 10 days where the operation was successful, although there were known risks (ie another CVA). Mr Nelson was my hero and I’ll be forever grateful to him.

To this day I deny to myself the stroke even happened. I try analyze the situation blaming my parents, myself, my boyfriend, God, but to no avail. So I try to get on with it and live as normal as possible although I do sometimes suffer depression. I walk with a limp on my left side and my arm is ok but not great. I’m in between jobs at the moment, although I do help a friend with childcare. I still live with Alan who is my rock and now at 36 I feel maybe I should have kids.

It’s not what happened on that fateful day that affects me most, but the emotional roller coaster that continues to burden my mind everyday. At last I feel I am realizing who ‘Ann’ actually is and don’t care what people think of me anymore. I am also forever grateful to my family for being there through some pretty horrible times.

Thanks to Ann for sending in her profile. Anyone else who would like to share their story can send it along with a photograph (if you're not shy!)

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