My best pal Sharon is brave and amazing
NIKI TENNANT
When gran Sharon Spiers was struck down by a devastating stroke at the age of only 46, not only did it rob her of her mobility, it also claimed her confidence, self esteem and zest for life.
Before she suffered the stroke a year ago, Sharon had Bell’s Palsy – a condition that paralyses muscles in one side of the face.
In Sharon’s case, the nerve malfunction affected the right side of her face.
But the stroke meant the paralysis reversed to the left.
She was unable to walk and temporarily lost the power of her left arm.
“My eye drooped and I couldn’t see out of it,” said Sharon, of Lochaber Drive in Springhall. “Three times, they put different weights in my eye. I used to have to pull the eyelid down to get to sleep.”
During a 10-hour operation – one of eight Sharon’s endured since the stroke – surgeons removed muscle from her leg and implanted it in her face.
And when her leg became infected, that caused another setback for the gran-of-two.
A year on physio has enabled Sharon to walk – with a stick.
Despite the surgery, rehabilitation and reduced mobility, the physical blow inflicted by the stroke is not what has had the most devastating impact on Sharon.
It is the psychological scars that are taking longer to heal.
“She has not been herself since,” said best pal Pauline Lannigan, of Bute Tower.
“She expects to just take a pill and it will all be alright. Her confidence has gone. We used to go out once a month. She used to be out-going and outlandish. Now, she’s always down and has really bad days. You’re lucky to get her out the door to go to Asda. She feels anxious and sick.
“She thinks everyone’s staring at her because of how she looks, which they’re not.
“Maybe it’s ignorant of me to tell her she looks fine because it’s not me looking in the mirror. I say it because I love her – because of who she is.”
To bring her best friend cheer and show how much she is appreciated and admired, Pauline nominated Sharon for a Say it with Flowers bouquet from luxury, contemporary florist, Stems of Burnside.
She told the Reformer: “I want to nominate my best friend in the whole world, Sharon Spiers.
“Even though she suffered a stroke, she pushed herself hard to recover and now walks with the aid of a stick and has had two invasive operations to try and get the muscles and nerves on the side of her face to work again.
“Sadly, this didn’t work and, although she does everything for everyone, she is a shadow of her former self now, lacking in self esteem and confidence. That’s why she deserves the flowers.”
We agreed and florist Janet Freeman of Stems of Burnside got to work on a stunning, bouquet, which we delivered to Sharon’s on her 47th birthday.
The next step in Sharon’s journey to recovery is an appointment next month with her plastic surgeon who will assess how effective the muscle transplant has been.
No-one hopes more than Pauline that her friend will receive positive news.
“She is always running about after everyone and never takes time for herself,” said Pauline. She is just amazing.”