Robert Stopford
I'm now 33 years old. I had my stroke (or cerebral vascular accident as medical gurus call it) at the age of nine. It took the form of two massive cerebral bleeds in the right parietal area of the right side of my brain. The bleeds occurred with no warning when I was sitting in the classroom at school. I cannot think of a better comparison than an electric circuit. Someone had pulled as switch, my left side had been deadened and I could not stop vomiting. My only symptom that morning had been the on-set of a severe headache so acute that you could almost touch it. In the run up to the stroke I had numbness and pins and needles sensations on my left-side. After being shuttled that same day to a G.P's surgery to a general hospital to the neurological hospital at Frenchay in Bristol I had deteriorated greatly but the intervention of the Professor of Neurosurgery saved my life. If he is still alive I should like to buy him a double scotch whisky and toast the sensation of being alive along with all the great possibilities and yes great uncertainties that life can have in store for us.
I was lucky to have physios that drove me relentlessly. They got me walking again and for their faith and vision I am eternally grateful. Since my recovery I have done a bewildering number of things. I've been to art school, spent three months travelling in Kenya (where I trekked to the third highest peak on Mount Kenya at about 17 200 ft) and travelled around India by train. I've also learnt to ride a horse with the help of a fantastic riding instructor and race horse trainer called Briony and a very ingenious saddlemaker to both of whom I am hugely indebted. Driving a car is also very liberating. My father, now a retired engineer helped make several simple but ingenious adaptations to the car. My latest project is the building of a mountain bike suited to my needs. It's amazing what a little simple technology can do. My other aspiration is to learn to SCUBA dive. The sensation of SCUBA(having tried it in a very deep swimming pool) is so life affirming and liberating! Have a go its fantastic fun!
I am now studying on a science foundation course at London University and I hope that this will lead to a place on a Radiography training course next year. There is a lot of encouragement and help out there if you know where to find it. The best advice and support is coming from specialised advice charities and support groups, like Different Strokes, who are light years ahead in their thinking.
I look to the future with hope.
Thanks to Robert for sending in his 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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