Mark Richardson had his whole life rocked when he suffered a stroke at just 49-years-old. Here he tells SR Times his story three years on.
“I was 49 when I had my stroke. [Before that] I was a super-fit, non smoking, occasional drinker, who played county league squash and I was a badminton coach.
“I worked as a business manager for Toyota/Lexus which I loved and was very well paid, but my life changed in the blink of an eye.”
Mark continues: “I was driving at the time my stroke struck so I pulled over thinking it was vertigo which I’ve had before. Then I passed out to be found hours later slumped over the wheel by two dog walkers.”
Mark’s stroke also occurred during the height of the pandemic.
“I was in hospital for six months. Three months of that was a rehab hospital but it was in the middle of the Covid [pandemic] so my rehab suffered.”
Now Mark attends private rehab and gives us his reflection on the progress he has made so far: “It’s hard work, but if I look back the progress I’ve made is clear to see.”
“I now live on my own in a brand new two-bed terraced house,” he says.
“I’ve got a 16 year old son who comes and stays a lot. The only adaptation I got to the house was an extra handrail on the stairs.
“I’m learning to walk and talk again, but my philosophy is that it could have been worse, yes I’ve got a few things to work on, but I love a challenge.”
On the misconception that younger people can’t have strokes, Mark says: “People have it in their heads you have to be old to have a stroke.”
However, Mark highlights the support he has received: “Everyone who I’ve come in contact with seems to understand what I’m going through and are willing to help me, they see the effort I’m putting in to get to be as independent as possible.”
Charity Different Strokes helps younger stroke survivors like Mark. To find out more about them click here, or listen to our podcast episode with CEO Austin Willett here.
