Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Brave Parker, 5, can beat stroke
Proud mum tells how son defied odds after taking ill as a newborn
THE mum of a brave schoolboy, who survived strokes as a baby, has urged others affected by the condition to remember “there is light at the end of the tunnel”.
Little Parker Mcgreevy has defied the odds with his remarkable recovery after facing serious illness as a baby.
Much of his first days of life were spent in a specialist neonatal unit but he has grown into a healthy youngster “made of strong stuff ”.
Now five, the North Belfast boy, a pupil at Black Mountain Primary School, has stunned medical professionals with his recovery.
A stroke is a brain attack which is caused when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off.
Childhood stroke affects about 400 children per year across the UK.
When Parker was born at the Royal Victoria Hospital on October 15, 2016, he had multiple strokes shortly after birth.
His mum Louise and dad Simon were extremely worried for their little boy and frightened at what the future might hold for him.
SHOCKING
Louise, 33, spoke to the Mirror to mark World Stroke Day 2021, which takes place today and aims to underline the serious nature and high rates of stroke.
She explains: “I had to have an emergency caesarean due to complications with my pregnancy and unfortunately Parker had multiple strokes when he was born. It was a very scary time and I didn’t realise that a baby could have a stroke so it was shocking for all of us.
“Parker spent nine days in the neonatal unit and the medical staff told us that he would need lots of rehabilitation and support.
“We didn’t know what the future held for Parker – whether he would be able to walk or talk.
“He was discharged from hospital and throughout his young life, he has attended rounds of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and lots of appointments as doctors measured his growth and monitored his development. It’s been tough but Parker is made of strong stuff.”
The Stroke Association has supported Parker and his family along the way – assuring them that they are not alone.
Louise said: “I contacted the Stroke Association in desperation. They gave me the emotional support I needed so much and advice that helped us find Parker the right care.
“They gave us hope for Parker’s future and as tough and upsetting as it was at times, we were determined to fight to ensure he had a normal life. When Parker first walked, it was the greatest moment ever. It was a thousand times more of a milestone than it would have been. There was real happiness – we were crying and laughing.
“We could not be happier or more proud of how far he has come. Watching our beautiful, happy boy now it is amazing and we make sure to mark his every milestone. At the moment he loves drumming and goes to band practice with his daddy.
“He has always had a very musical ear and strong talent so maybe he’ll be on stage in a rock band some day.
“He is also mad about dinosaurs and trains and trucks, he’s obsessed with anything with wheels or tyres really.” The family are now supporting the charity’s Hope After Stroke campaign and want Parker’s story to serve as a reminder that stroke can strike anyone at any age.
Stroke strikes every five minutes in the UK and there are almost 39,000 people rebuilding their lives after stroke in Northern Ireland.
Barry Macaulay, of the Stroke Association in Northern Ireland, said: “Stroke is a devastating condition that changes lives in an instant.
“As Parker’s story shows, stroke can happen to anyone, of any age, at any time. Most people don’t realise that it’s one of the biggest killers in Northern Ireland and the leading cause of adult disability.”
And Mr Macaulay stressed that despite commitments made by the Stormont Health Minister, “progress with reshaping and transforming our stroke services has stalled, with many stroke survivors feeling completely forgotten about”.
He added: “Everyone affected by stroke in Northern Ireland deserves to have the chance to make the best possible recovery.”