Stroke survivor says target to walk dog again gave him hope
Cockapoo Ralph key to owner’s recovery from illness
Astrokesurvivorhastoldhowhis dogcametohisrescueashetried to rebuild his life.
Jason Parker was struggling to cope following his illness when his pet, Ralph, gave him a moment of hope.
It came as Jason was able to walkthethree-year-oldcockapoo again for the first time.
It marked a marvellous milestoneforJasononhisroadto recoveryafterthestroke–ableed thesizeofatennisballinhisbrain – happened while he was raking leaves in the garden of his home in Bolney in December 2019.
“Ifeltsuddenlytired,thinking I needed a break,” said Jason.
“I then noticed that I couldn’t tell my left leg to kick a football. I then fell over and realised I couldn’t use my left arm either.
“My throat was tightening. I had to crawl with one arm back up to the house to call for help. My wife Victoria is a doctor and realised it was a stroke.”
He was taken by ambulance to Royal Sussex County Hospital and given a brain scan.
“I had a bleed the size of a tennis ball in my brain. I couldn’t sit, stand, walk, hug,” Jason said.
It took two weeks before doctors were able to see on a CT scanthatthebleedwascausedby anarterialvenousmalformation or AVM, a naturally occurring angleofbloodvesselsinthebrain, which had burst.
Jason shared his story to support the Stroke Association’s Hope After Stroke campaign, highlighting the difficulties stroke survivors can face and moments that can give them optimism in their recovery.
“My hope after stroke was being able to walk Ralph and feel thatIwasabletodonormalthings againsuchasridingmybike,”said Jason.
“My first time out on a bike was only to get the paper but it felt good to feel the wind on my faceagain.Iwas45whenIhadmy stroke,soitcanhappenatanyage and to anyone who is healthy.
“I would like people to understand how difficult the mental side is, what fatigue – rather than tiredness – actually is and how you can make rapid progress with determination and the right support. The care in hospital was excellent, however once I was in the community it was very difficult to access. I was almost left to myself, unable to walk. My mental health was awful, but mostly ignored. I had to fund rehab physio myself and arrange for counselling. “
After three months in hospital, Jason returned home to recover with his wife Victoria and children Annabel, George and Scarlett.
Afurtherfourmonthslaterhe was able to make a staged return to work as healthcare partner at KPMG, where he has now been full time for a year.
“It’s strange to think I will always have a cavity inside my brain, and that such a small blood vessel can cause so much damage,” said Jason.