Stroke survivor battles to find new lease of life
The effects of a stroke can be devastating. It makes recovery a long and arduous task but with the right support there should be optimism. Here we look at one stroke survivor’s rehabilitation
Confident public speaker Nick Cann was giving a lecture in Northampton when he had a major stroke.
The devastating brain attack severely affected the right side of his body and left him unable to talk.
But after two years of extensive rehabilitation, the 52-yearold is now making great progress – and has even found time to support other stroke survivors.
Nick, who had the stroke in March 2013, was moved to the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport and spent a further two weeks at a rehabilitation hospital in Chepstow.
His doting wife Jo said: “His speech was limited, maybe one or two words and was quite confused but he was moving. His right hand and arm was very weak but his right leg was improving all the time.”
Following the stroke, Nick, the chief executive of the Institute of Financial Planning (IFP), was also diagnosed with aphasia and dyspraxia.
Aphasia affects about a third of stroke survivors and impacts on the ability to speak, understanding, read or write.
To help Nick early on, his family brought out old pictures of his friends and asked him to point out who they were.
They also focused on him being able to say and write his name.
Jo said: “Nick has been amazing throughout. He has kept his sense of humour and perspective on life. Nothing gets him down and he finds ways to communicate.”
Once home seven weeks later, the reality of life after a stroke began to hit home. Nick started having weekly physio sessions, a weekly speech therapy session and was told to stop driving.
Nick and Jo then met Luisa Stokes, a Life After Stroke coordinator in Monmouthshire, who put them in touch with local groups and activities.
Jo added: “We’re keen to raise awareness as well as funds to support the Stroke Association and the work they do.
“As Nick’s speech has been affected by the stroke it’s made it clear that more communication support services are needed.
“Our support is essential to help make these things happen.”
Nick started working with speech therapy software called Step By Step and any other apps Jo could find in a bid to improve his speech. They also contacted a private speech therapist to help get the programme right for him.
Before his stroke, Nick was a great communicator. His job meant he was on his feet presenting to hundreds of people on regular occasions, meeting journalists and leading his team.
He was also renowned for his humour. Shortly before his stroke, he had done his first stand-up comedy routine for Comic Relief.
Not being able to speak proved to be an immense hardship for Nick, but the positive attitude and strength of character that both he and Jo displayed pulled them through.
Their drive to help other stroke survivors began with a sponsored cycle ride from Lon- don to Paris that Jo organised in May 2014.
Jo cycled with Julie Lord, former IFP president, and three other family members from London to Paris, covering over 300 miles in four days. As part of ‘Team Nick’ they raised an incredible £16,260.
This was followed by lots of fundraising activities among their friends, colleagues, and contacts within the financial services industry. And in May Nick decided to take part in a bike ride from Cardiff to Tenby as part of a para-cycling relay team, raising £6,700.
Nick said: “People thought I was mad. I didn’t cycle before my stroke. I cycled on my own bike. I was part of a team of 10 people who had other disabilities and conditions. Some cycled on tandems, others used hand bikes.”
Nick said: “It wasn’t easy. I trained in the gym. It is much different riding a bike on the road.
“Changing gears with my right hand is a problem. I had the bike adapted and I also find I lean to the right as I have a weakness there.”
Jo played an important part on the team as the support rider and encouraged Nick and the team to keep going.
She said: “It was a really tough challenge but Nick was determined to give it his best shot and it was an incredible feeling when we all made it to Tenby.
“We’re thrilled with the response we’ve had since we started fundraising. We’re also hoping to raise awareness around stroke as not many people are aware how common it is in people as young as Nick.
“People can’t tell when they look at him that he’s a stroke survivor because physically he’s recovered quite well.”
Bridget Stadden, head of fundraising at Stroke Association Wales, added: “In Wales there are more than 7,000 people who have a stroke each year and it is one of the leading causes of complex disability.
“Nick is one of more than 65,100 people in Wales living with the effects of stroke. In less than a year-and-a-half, Nick and Jo have raised more than £50,000 to help support other stroke survivors. This amazing achievement is entirely down to the respect and affection in which they are held, and the commitment they have to supporting others.”
The pair are now working with the Stroke Association to develop a new project in Monmouthshire to provide longerterm, specifically tailored support for stroke survivors.
One of the project’s aims is to increase employability by training employers in dealing with employees who have had a stroke and working with stroke survivors to ascertain what their options are for working since their stroke.
This will be a sustainable, much needed resource that perfectly sums up Nick and Jo’s optimism and drive to make a difference to the lives of stroke survivors.
To find out more about the Stroke Association’s work in Wales visit stroke.org.uk/ Wales or contact the National office on 029 2052 4400 or email info.cymru@stroke.org.uk