‘People living with strokes need more help’

Fiona Dickens, 64, suffered a stroke nine years ago on New Years’ Eve.

She was out shopping when she collapsed on the pavement in the snow. Passers-by helped her to her car on the street and when her husband Paul returned to the vehicle she was very confused. Luckily people stayed with her and were able to explain what had happened. Paul quickly real- ised she had had a stroke and rushed her to hospital where she was diagnosed quickly and thrombolysed. This involves using drugs that can be injected to break up blood clots.

Ms Dickens, who lives in Dirleton village, near North Berwick, was left with aphasia and had no speech.

She was unable to ask questions about what was happening to her or even speak to her husband or son. She attended rehabilitation and stroke therapy for several months and once home found that her communication and confidence had plateaued. She began to attend Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland’s (CHSS) Rehabilitation Support service and was given one to one communication support.

She said: “The CHSS have supported me in many ways, I’ve attended the North Berwick Stoke Club and I’ve volunteered in the Stroke Shop. They are helping me with a lot of communication difficulties following my stroke and a lot of other people’s strokes. More needs to be done to help people living with strokes particularly with aphasia.”