3rd Feb: I was working from home when I heard Jamie drop something three times in the bedroom. I wondered what he was up to, so went through. That was the start of the nightmare. I couldn’t understand what he was saying and then I saw that his left side was paralysed. It was very clear that he was having a stroke so I knew to act fast. I called 999 - the first time I’ve ever had to - within 20 minutes the ambulance arrived.
After some initial tests the ambulance whisked us off to the Great Western Hospital in Swindon. In A&E there was a crowd of hospital staff asking Jamie questions and I had to answer most of them, as he couldn’t talk/think clearly.
Jamie was wheeled off for scans to see what had occurred. They determined that he had a blood clot on the right-hand side of his brain - an ischaemic stroke. The doctor advised of the treatments available, highlighting the worst case scenarios - I suppose it’s better to be forewarned, but it was extremely scary. We had to agree to the clot-busting medicine being pumped into Jamie’s arm. This thrombolysis can cause further brain damage for some patients but how could we refuse something that might clear the clot? They quickly started pumping the drug into him. Some time later staff crowded round to check whether Jamie could swallow and, thank goodness, he was able to.
After close monitoring it was decided to send him to the Hyper Acute Stroke Unit at Bristol’s Southmead Hospital. Six blurry hours after the 999 call Jamie was in surgery having a thrombectomy to remove as much of the clot as possible. We were informed of even more frightening possible effects of this surgery but we agreed that doing nothing wasn’t an option. While Jamie was in surgery I wandered the hospital corridors and attempted sleep in various communal areas. It’s a 10 year old hospital, beautifully designed, with lots of space, but not a great place to spend a night - however our car was 60 miles away at home… I was waiting for a call from the surgery team after 10:30pm. They were long anxious hours - the worst night ever.
4th Feb: At 3:30am I finally received the call to say that most of the clot had been removed. Jamie was in recovery and I could go to see him. On the surgical ward the surgeon spoke to me and again warned that they couldn’t determine how much brain damage (ugh, that phrase) had been caused. I didn’t know what condition he’d be in so I couldn’t have been more relieved when he opened his eyes and actually spoke to me. I wasn’t allowed to stay long so left him to sleep. So grateful to my nephew and sister for collecting me at about 9am and taking me home, to sleep.
Later that day I was being advised by my worried family that I should rest and stay home. We didn’t know how Jamie was or if he was conscious but I knew I had to see him so I drove back to Bristol in the evening. After such a terrible previous day, it was a very positive visit. Jamie was pretty chirpy and eating. Though he was dropping off to sleep mid-sentence, the nurses were already talking about him starting his recovery exercises! I visited each day and, although confused, Jamie was talking and enjoying the food at Bristol.
6th Feb: Jamie was moved back to Swindon’s Great Western Hospital to the Hyper Acute Stroke ward. Just 20 minutes from home so it was great that I could visit him twice a day and work from home between visits. His speech and movement were improving at every visit. The nurses were moving him to the chair to eat and I chopped his food so he could eat, otherwise he ended up wearing most of his food! The doctors were confident of a full recovery in time.
A week after the stroke he took his first steps using the Zimmer frame and nearly ran off down the ward - I heard the physiotherapist shouting ‘Stop Jamie!’ 😊
14th February Jamie was moved to Reading’s Royal Berkshire Hospital for his final rehabilitation before he could be sent home. The therapists spent time working on his strength and movement along with speech and occupational therapy. They got him to make a cup of coffee and he was regularly doing a couple of miles on an exercise bike.
19th February and he was walking with a stick. The therapists worked with him daily which was exhausting but improvements continued and he even practiced some walking in the gym without a stick, but his balance isn’t very good.
26th February: Jamie came home with me, a week earlier than expected. A day after our 37th anniversary, but still a celebration ❤️
So Jamie’s now under the care of the Early Supported Discharge (ESD) unit - thank goodness for the protection of our NHS. They’ll offer care and rehabilitation for up to six weeks. We’ve had four different therapists and a nurse to visit, along with deliveries of support equipment for ease of washing, etc.
The cause of the stroke isn’t yet known but we are expecting some test results to help with that. The best thing is that he’s home and continuing to progress slowly but surely. With medication, exercise, care and a reasonable Spring and Summer we expect a return to full health. 💜
