A woman whose stroke was dismissed as ‘just a hangover’ by doctors is stepping up to take on the Stroke Association’s Stride for Stroke challenge.
Helen Mullins, 41, from Nottingham, will aim to walk 2022 steps and raise at least £2022 for the charity.
The mother-of-five noticed numbness and a lack of movement in her left arm while at work in August last year.
She woke the next morning with severe pain in her head and no movement in her left side.
After ringing the emergency services, Helen was told it was just a migraine and to take painkillers.
However, with her pain getting worse and struggling to walk, Helen was taken by ambulance to Queen’s Medical Centre for tests where doctors said Helen was “obviously hungover and acting drunk.”
Helen said:
“The second time I went to hospital, I couldn’t walk properly, my left leg was completely numb.
“I knew something was very wrong but I was told that I was acting drunk and was obviously just hungover!
“I’d been at work the night before until very late so I hadn’t been drinking at all. I was just told I needed rest and rehydration.”
Helen was sent home, only to return the next day where doctor’s finally discovered that Helen had had a stroke caused by a blood clot.
They had to remove part of her scull to ease the pressure in her brain.
Helen would spend three months in hospital, where she recovered her speech and undertook intense physio and occupational therapy.
Helen said: “I was allowed to come home in November 2020 and had carers until the following July.
“I can walk more now, only with a frame, but I’ve partially lost vision in my left eye and my left arm is still no good.”
Helen is now able to walk unaided around the block, recently walking more than 2,000 steps.
She now wants to raise awareness that strokes can affect anyone of any age by taking on her own Stride for Stroke challenge.
Helen said:
“I joke with my sister that I feel like Captain Tom walking around with a frame.
“I’ve been able to walk a couple of thousand steps now, that’s why I wanted to do this challenge for the Stroke Association.
“I’ll be walking 2022 steps and I want to raise £2022 at least too.
“I’ve lost so much since my stroke but in sharing my story on my ‘Helen’s road to recovery’ page, I’ve had amazing support and been able to provide support to others too”.
Lucy Burnip, Relationship Fundraising Manager at the Stroke Association, said:
“It’s a new year, so it’s the perfect time to set yourself a new challenge and put in the strides for stroke survivors across the UK.
“We’re so pleased to see that Helen is doing something amazing taking on her own challenge during Stride for Stroke.
“Whether you take on this challenge as a stroke survivor, in memory of a loved one, in support of someone affected by stroke or you just want to help raise crucial funds to rebuild lives after stroke – we are so incredibly grateful.
“Stroke strikes every five minutes in the UK and it changes lives in an instant.
“However, with the support of people like Helen we can help more stroke survivors and their families to rebuild their lives.”
The Stroke Association is asking supporters to Stride for Stroke, one step for each of the 1.3 million stroke survivors in the UK. The 1.3 million steps challenge works out at 10,000 steps a day for 130 days.
Find out more at: stroke.org.uk/fundraising/virtual-events/stride-stroke
