Channel 4 doc to follow young people recovering from stroke

A Channel 4 documentary will follow three young stroke survivors as they rebuild their lives and work towards greater independence.

Trauma: My Broken Brain is being produced with the Stroke Association and will document their experiences over the course of a year.

As revealed by Deadline, the series follows Dan, 28, a dancer who was left using a wheelchair and barely able to speak following emergency brain surgery.

It will also feature Saskia, 22, who was left bedbound after a severe brain bleed, and Dec, 20, who collapsed four months into a new relationship and spent weeks in a coma.

The documentary aims to show that surviving a stroke is only the beginning of recovery.

Channel 4 commissioning executive Simon Lee said: “This is an ambitious and important series that challenges perceptions and gives a voice to young people whose lives have been transformed by stroke, as they embark on the long road that begins after survival.”

The programme is being produced by Stream Media Group, which also made Channel 4’s Anna Richardson: Love, Loss and Dementia with the Alzheimer’s Society.

Stream’s Victoria Noble said: “What struck us throughout filming was how little people understand about stroke.

“Survival is often seen as the end of the story, when in reality, it is only the beginning.

“By sharing their journeys with such honesty and courage, Dec, Dan and Saskia revealed the reality of rebuilding a life after stroke, and the truth behind the long and unforgiving journey to reclaim the right to live an independent life.

“Alongside the extraordinary support of their families, their stories offer a powerful insight into resilience, determination and hope. It’s been a privilege to tell their stories.”