Carl's story...

My life changed the day i woke up on Sunday 7th October 2018. I remember I couldn't see properly from my left eye. I had a terrible headache that extended down the back of my neck. The left side of my body felt heavy, with pins and needles in my arm and leg. I was scared; I knew something was terribly wrong.

I remember my son taking me to the opticians to have my eyes checked, but nothing much after that…

Carl, 45, was a hardworking fun-loving father and husband. After suffering an unexplained transient ischaemic attack (TIA), multiple seizures and a subsequent massive stroke, Carl has been left with a restricted blood supply in his neck, left side motor disturbance and a severe loss of sight in the left visual field. He now suffers from daily disturbed moods, anger, anxiety and depression and flashbacks. He has been left unable to work, has had to surrender his driving licence, his work van sold to help make ends-meet, and his family are now preparing to sell the family home because they are no longer able to make the mortgage repayments.

Carl has been left requiring a cocktail of medication for his mood disturbances, depression and recurring seizures. His family (wife Ellen, 42, son Ben, 23, daughter Kyra, 21 and son Charlie, 7) have become full-time carers. Because Carl is restricted by his reduced mobility and vision, they help him with every aspect of daily life. The days are long, with Carl unable to fill any of his time by reading or watch television due to reduced vision and unbearable headaches. Carl’s family spend every day worrying that another stroke could be just around the corner.

Since being discharged from hospital, the NHS have unfortunately been unable to offer Carl the rehabilitative support he needs via their outpatient service, which is why this page has been set up. Please, please help raise funds for Carl to access the physiotherapy and counselling he so badly needs, enable his family to put a Christmas meal on the table this year, and help meet the cost of selling up and moving house, which otherwise would not be possible.