Between the Lines: Stories of Brain Injury Survivors – (Part 2 of 6)
This is the second post in Between the Lines: Stories of Brain Injury Survivors. If you missed the beginning of Tony’s Journey, click here to read it.
Every year, there are over 62,000 new strokes in Canada. And every year, 14,000 Canadians die from stroke. Tony is one of the survivors–and it’s thanks to his wife, Ann-Marie, for taking action.
One Friday night in 2009, Tony and his wife were going through their regular routine, chatting with each other while getting ready for bed. Somewhere along the conversation, Ann-Marie noticed that Tony’s speech had become difficult to understand. She looked at him strangely, and asked him what he was trying to say. Tony didn’t understand what her deal was; he felt like he was speaking the way he always did. That’s because when you’re having a stroke, it can be difficult to realize what’s happening right away. It was only after Ann-Marie’s continued concern, and her decision to call 911, that he realized something was very, very wrong.
That’s why it’s so important for everyone to understand the signs of a stroke. If Ann-Marie hadn’t known what to do, Tony might have died that night.
Luckily, she recognized that Tony was in danger. She knew he needed to go to the hospital and that the situation was serious, and she did the right thing by calling 911.
Learn to recognize the signs of a stroke
One day, you might be called upon to do the same. Not sure what the signs of a stroke are? There’s no time like the present to learn! From the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada, here’s the FAST method for identifying a stroke:
Of course, there’s always more to learn. This fascinating and eye-opening TED Talk by neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor goes into what it’s like to have a stroke, what it means to have a stroke, and how having a stroke has impacted her own life.
Find Stroke Resources
Do you know a stroke survivor, or are a stroke survivor yourself? We’ve collected some resources that Tony and his family found useful, and you might too:
- What is a Stroke video – BC Brain Injury Association
- Signs of Stroke – Heart and Stroke Foundation
- Stroke Recovery Video – BC Brain Injury Association
- Find Local Stroke Resources – Brainstreams Repository
In the coming weeks, we’ll continue to reflect on Tony’s journey and the key aspects of his recovery over the past 9 years, as well as share a wider variety of resources for stroke survivors and their loved ones.
