Music man Ron tells of his fight to speak again after a stroke
A CHEADLE musician has shared his story of learning to speak again after surviving a stroke.
Ron Henshall, 66, is one of the hundreds of people living with communication difficulties after a stroke.
Ron, a father of three, has been a musician from the age of eight, performing alongside well-known bands such as Black Sabbath during his career.
Before his stroke, Ron was frequently gigging across Manchester, while teaching full time at schools in Stockport.
In January 2015, Ron had a major stroke and had to re-learn how to communicate.
With a masters in Buddhist studies, Ron used to meditate when he couldn’t find any words.
He said: “Because I had no words in my mind, I felt calm and peaceful meditating.
“It was only when my words started to return and I couldn’t say what I wanted to say that I started to feel frustrated.”
Ron was supported by the Stroke Association at their communication support groups, and began going along to the Stroke Association’s North West Community Choir. Now Ron can hold conversations but it takes a lot of his energy, and he still struggles to find certain words.
Ron’s wife Lynda said: “I think Ron’s teaching background played a big part in his determination to recover. Doctors told him he would speak, which gave him confidence, but it’s his determination that got him to where he is today.”
Ron still attends the choir on a Monday evening. He said: “It’s been brilliant for my speech. Talking to the other members each week has helped me so much. I’m now singing in the choir as well as playing my guitar.
“Having a role helps me to focus and mine is to help the singers stay in tune!”
The Stroke Association’s Lost for Words campaign aims to raise awareness of the challenges stroke survivors with communication difficulties can face, and help and support available.
More than 350,000 people in the UK have aphasia, a communication disability which can be caused by stroke. The Stroke Association is urging people to show their support for stroke survivors who are lost for words and make a donation.
For more information, visit stroke.org.uk/ lostforwords.