A special in-person community event for young stroke survivors will take place in Scotland this September, led by two national charities.
Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) and Different Strokes will co-host Life After Stroke: Identity, Experience and Insight on Saturday 20 September at Glasgow’s Studio Conference Centre on Hope Street.
The event aims to give younger stroke survivors the chance to connect, share their stories and have open, honest conversations about life after stroke.
CHSS, Scotland’s largest health charity, is partnering with Different Strokes, a charity that supports younger stroke survivors.
The event will focus on identity, experience and insight, and is intended to address the distinct challenges younger people can face after a stroke, including feelings of isolation or uncertainty about the future.
Amy Callaghan, CHSS strategic political advisor and former MP, will deliver the keynote address.
Callaghan, a young brain haemorrhage survivor, will share her journey through rehabilitation, her return to work, campaigning for accessibility in politics, and her continued work with CHSS.
Callaghan said: “Events such as Life After Stroke are so important, especially for young people, because they offer a unique chance to come together and share experiences, advice and feel understood on your recovery journey no matter what stage of that journey you’re on,”
“Every stroke is different, and every stroke journey is different.
“For younger people there can be so many daunting challenges ahead which is why it’s important to speak to other people who are going through a similar experience to you to realise you are not alone.
“September’s event is an ideal opportunity in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere for young stroke survivors and their families and carers to attend.”
Among those sharing their story will be Kirsty MacLean, now assistant manager at the CHSS shop in Prestwick.
MacLean experienced a cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) stroke – a rare type caused by a blood clot in the brain’s venous sinuses – after a series of painful headaches.
She was treated at University Hospital Crosshouse and the neuro ward at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow. The stroke left her with no lower or peripheral vision.
She said: “After the operation I was so depressed. After four weeks in hospital I got a letter about support after stroke,”
“I was really struggling when I got home and I was really scared and didn’t know how to live my new life.
“My mum called my stroke nurse and she referred me to Joanne from Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland and I met with her once a week.
“Joanne wanted to set goals with me.
“She would meet me at the train station every week and get the train to Saltcoats and we’d walk back and that made so much of a difference because it gave me confidence.
“Some weeks she would just call and it would make such a difference because she got it. That’s the power that these conversations can have.”
