‘Ian has been so good to me. There aren’t many people who would stick around after something like this, but he wanted to marry me’
EX-NURSING MATRON ON THE STROKE THAT TOOK AWAY HER SIGHT – AND THE LOVING SUPPORT THAT IS HELPING HER THROUGH
ALISON Roberts’s life changed forever when she woke up in hospital on Christmas Day after suffering from a stroke.
The severity of the bleed on her brain left her with aphasia, a communication disorder that affects a person’s ability to read, write or speak.
And because she could not talk, she could not tell anyone she was unable to see properly either.
“My whole left side had basically gone. I couldn’t walk or speak,” Alison said.
“My daughters came to visit me after I woke up and I knew who they were, but I couldn’t even say their names. I couldn’t explain to anyone what was going on – that was the hardest thing.”
Six months into her recovery from the stroke she suffered in 2016, Alison was learning to walk and talk again and was registered as blind. But suddenly, the world became very small.
“To me, everything just felt like it happened all at once and it felt like my life was over,” she said.
“I went from working in a high-up position and working with people who had dementia to not being able to do anything myself.”
Alison, who now lives in Huncote, had to leave her job as a nursing matron in London and was no longer able to work.
The 57-year-old and her now husband, Ian, had to move house to somewhere that was more accessible for Alison, who was housebound for several months.
With the support of local sight-loss charity Vista, Alison was able to get a stick to help assist her with walking around and finally, after a year of not being able to go out, she started to regain her independence.
She said doctors told her that she wouldn’t be able to regain her ability to read or write, but is in fact “getting better every day”.
“In the beginning, I started reading children’s books to help me and today I can send a text and speak on the phone,” she said. “I tried really hard – I just wanted a bit of my life back.”
Almost a year after the stroke, in December 2017, Alison and her partner Ian got engaged at a Rod Stewart gig – a surprise from Ian with a little help from Rod’s band. “We met through being fans of Rod Steward and it was such a lovely surprise,” she said.
“Ian has been so good to me. To be honest, there are not many people who would stick around after something like this – but he wanted to marry me.” On the couple’s wedding day, Alison’s cane was decorated with flowers to match her dress.
“Not everyone likes having to use a cane but I was proud of it. It’s part of me,” said Alison, who as she became more confident, was able to do more things independently, such as catch a bus to the city centre.
“I was starting to feel back to my old self and it felt great,” she said.
But the coronavirus pandemic set her back once again.
“I was doing well but then Covid19 started to spread and it was like I went back to the beginning,” she said.
“I couldn’t go out again. This time I was more scared of walking into people because of the risk of Covid.
“We’re told to keep our distance but it’s not that simple when you can’t see. I wouldn’t be able to notice if I was too close to someone.”
To aid what little sight she has, Alison wears special glasses. But wearing masks has also been a problem as they steam up her glasses.
Once again, Vista stepped in to support her and with the help of the charity’s rehabilitation team, she was able to get back on her feet.
“They helped me all over again – they were amazing and they really do build you up,” she said.
Alison is asking others to support the charity and the work they do.
“With the ongoing help and support that Vista has given me, my world has become a much larger and brighter place.
“I really don’t know where I would be without them,” she said.
This year, Vista’s fund-raised income has fallen dramatically due to the restrictions around Covid-19.
“People like me need their support more than ever,” Alison said.
You can help to support local people with sight loss like Alison by donating to Vista through their website or call the charity on 0116 249 8801.
To me, everything just felt like it happened all at once and it felt like my life was over Alison Roberts on suffering a stroke