My Story - Barry Thompson, Aged 41

Barry and his oldest daughter

I was on the last day of my holiday when we were in Brittany, France.  The night before I felt something was wrong.  I felt dizzy, sick and I fell into one of the doors.  It lasted a few hours then I went back to sleep on the sofa.  The next morning, I walked to the bins without any reassurance.  Then we decided to go to the market at Benodet (within walking distance).  We walked for about 15 minutes before arriving outside the market.  The next thing, I was laid on the floor outside a shop.  I couldn't feel the right side of my body and I couldn't move my leg.  The shopkeeper rang the ambulance and within 15 minutes I was in the ambulance.

 

The paramedic did a few tests before we got to the hospital to help see what had happened.  My wife and kids went to get a taxi to the hospital.

 

I had a few scans and tests, then my family were allowed to visit me in A&E.  I can't remember much else from this point - the first thing I can remember was my wife coming to see me in another ward.  To start with I had not much appetite back but I had jelly pots for my dinner/lunch.  My brother came to see me about 3 days after I had the stroke, and to take my kids home.  My wife stopped with me in France for another 2 weeks and 3 days.  Then I was flown back to Elvington airport in a special plane.  That afternoon I was transferred to York hospital.

 

I went to the acute stroke unit and stayed there for 3 days.  I then went onto ward 39 and stayed there for 3 weeks - during that time they took some xrays.  Since then I have been allowed home and had Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Speech and Language Therapists to come and help me.

 

I have 4 kids, 3 of them are triplets and 1 of them is almost 21.  They have helped me a lot during the last 5 months (it was in August '06).  The triplets are all 12 and are now in Year 8 at high school.  All 4 of them are girls - I am the only man in the house.

 

My arm still needs a bit more time to heal, and my leg needs improvement too.  I can walk un-aided now and am getting back on my bike - in fact, I've never been off it since I was let home!  I have 15 minutes on my bike every day but I'm not out on the road yet - I have a trainer.

 

My speech is a lot better now too and my appetite is back (I eat like a horse).  Lastly, I want to say about my wife - she is the best thing that has ever happened to me and has helped me loads through the last 5 months.

(I thank my daughter for writing this for me).

Thanks to Barry for sending in hia 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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