There is of course no such thing as a ‘good’ place or time to have a stroke. But most would surely wish to be close to home should the worst happen to them.
Berta Joncus was not so fortunate.
Working and ‘having a nice time’ in Paris, the academic and freelance musicologist was preparing to deliver a talk on Handel’s Semele at the Royal Opera House in London in a few weeks time.
Berta tells NR Times: “I was having a tuina massage after a morning of yoga. I was preparing a script at the time and needed some downtime.
“It was during the massage that I had my stroke and when I came to, I was having an MRI scan.
“I was lucky, because I was five minutes from Neuro Sainte-Anne, which is France’s best neurology unit. So I was taken immediately.”
Berta does have a fractured recollection of the immediate aftermath of her stroke.
She explains that the staff were understandably ‘freaking out’ and tried to get her to stand up but to no avail. Berta insisted that she was fine, waving off their insistence that an ambulance should be called.
Thankfully, they ignored her protestations.
Berta was rushed to the acute ward, where she spent the next three weeks recuperating, with insurance covering the stay.
Berta says: “The doctors were amazing and they wanted me to stay there.
“They actually started my rehab the day after my stroke.
“I was eating, I could swallow, I could talk. I could answer their questions in French.
“So I thought, actually, I can’t be that bad. I was bedridden completely, but they did try to get me up and walking as soon as possible.
“But because I couldn’t find French health insurance, I had to go back to the UK.
“I was repatriated in an ambulance sent out from London. It was kind of like a school outing.
“It was quite bizarre. I had two doctors and a nurse with me, and I was talking them through the sights of Paris. It was actually quite jolly!”
Berta arrived at Charing Cross Hospital where was moved into an acute, open ward. The experience proved very different to her stay in Paris.
Berta explains: “The people there tried so hard. They were amazing professionals, wonderful.
“But it was really tough to be in that ward. I could hear people crying and screaming at night. I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t eat.
“And the rehab was starting, but again, staff were totally overstretched. So I was getting maybe an hour of rehab a week.
“Again, I just can’t emphasise enough that the people were fantastic and everyone was trying so hard.
“But one night, I had to wait 45 minutes before someone could come to take me to the toilet.”
With Berta fearing the impact on her recovery, her family stepped in and began looking for alternatives, finding Ascot Rehab in Streatham, London.
The experience since she arrived at Ascot has been transformational, Berta says, with a ‘truly immersive’ rehab programme spanning her physical, cognitive and, just as importantly, psychological recovery.
Berta adds: “This team is the best in the world. They are incredible.
“We’ve all become like family. They just drop in and we have a chat.
“They always say, if you feel upset about anything, any time of day and night, just call. And I trust them that that’s true. They’re there for me 100%”
While Berta has fully embraced the hospital’s rehab facilities, recovery has not been easy.
Beta says: “The most challenging thing is dealing just with physical exhaustion.
“After a stroke, it feels like your bones have been replaced by iron ore because you have no muscle to support you.
“Sleep patterns radically change, too. And the brain needs rest, right? There are ways to stimulate it and exercise it. But you also just need rest.
“And even weeks into this process, I still sometimes experience this feeling of a wave crashing over me.
“I have to lie down, I have to just chill. I can’t do anything else. It’s actually more psychological than physical.”
The stroke also affected Berta’s eyesight, which has presented challenges for the writer. She can no longer spend hours at a computer, and reading the printed page is difficult too.
However, she’s found workarounds that have enabled her to continue doing the work which so enriches her life.
Berta explains: “I’m the principal investigator for a project that explores music and the movement in 18th century Britain to abolish Slavery.
“I discovered these scores at the British Library.
“I work with a team of six multi-talented composers, arrangers, songwriters and producers.
“I give them the scores alongside 18th-century writings by Black authors, and together we create a show that takes place at the Handel Hendrix House.
“The space itself is truly remarkable. This is where Handel composed Messiah, which makes it an incredible atmosphere for what we’re doing.
“To hear these songs performed in modern times for the first time in such a setting is amazing.”
Remarkably, Berta was able to get back to work within months of the stroke.
She explains: “Three months to the day after my stroke, I led, MCd, curated and lectured at one of these concerts.
“It was one of the proudest moments of my life and really, really challenging, but the Ascot team made it possible.
“Two team members came with me and helped me with all the very difficult logistics, including the visit to the pub afterwards.
“Obviously, that was a crucially important part!”
During her ten-week inpatient programme at Ascot Rehab, Berta achieved significant improvements in both mobility and activities of daily living (ADLs).
Her rehabilitation was delivered by the full multidisciplinary team (MDT) under the supervision of a consultant neurologist, ensuring a comprehensive and specialist approach.
In addition to conventional neurorehabilitation, the use of advanced robotic technology and hydrotherapy at the Rehab Hub played a pivotal role in her progress, setting Ascot Rehab apart as a
centre of excellence.
To further support her journey, a key worker was appointed as her primary point of contact, facilitating both medical and non-medical communication between Berta, her family, and the hospital team.
Berta continues to access outpatient services to maintain continuity of care and to build on her therapy plan.
She admits that she’s very lucky to be able to do her rehab at Ascot, thanks to the financial support of her family.
Berta says: “I’m not a person of great means. I’m a musician and a musicologist. I was lucky to get the help.
“But don’t be afraid to ask for help, because it’s critical. It saved me.
“If you have the option, don’t hesitate. Just pick the plunge. That’s what I would say.”
For more information about the neurorehabilitation offered at Ascot Rehab, visit: ascotrehab.com
