22-9-18 KATE'S STORY

I am competing in Tough Mudder on 22nd September 2018 for a very special patient that I have been treating for the past year. Ellie is a very motivated young lady and works very hard every day, and despite everything she is going through she has inspired so many people who she has met during her journey.

I am trying to raise as much money as possible to help Ellie continue her private treatment not covered by the NHS and to be able to help her fulfil her dream of supporting other stroke survivors. Please read her story below.

I would like to thank everybody who has donated, Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Once you donate they will send the donation straight to the charity.

ELLIE'S STORY

My name is Ellie and I suffered a stroke on August 2nd 2016, I was 22. Medication had not been able to control my epilepsy and I continued to have complex seizures. The consultants at King's College Hospital thought I was an ideal candidate for surgery to remove the right temporal lobe, so after numerous tests and stays in hospital they went ahead. Unfortunately during this routine operation I suffered a stroke.

When I awoke from surgery I realised I was paralysed on the left side, I was unable to move my arm, hand, leg or foot. At first I was devastated as I was looking forward to a seizure free life where I could drive , and do all the things a young person could. After a couple of 'down' days, I pulled myself together and thought 'right, I'm not going to get anywhere by crying and feeling sorry for myself'. I was determined to prove everybody wrong and leave the hospital on my two legs and not being wheeled out. After 2 months of rehab and working hard, I managed to achieve this and finally walked out of hospital on the 2nd November 2016.

Since then I have had private physio four times a week and acupuncture once a week, this has had to be funded by my family. We have moved home and my family are constantly trying to raise as much money as they can. My mother has had to give up her job with the National Trust to help me on a daily basis and my father who is a fireman has taken early retirement to be able to assist me with my rehab.

The loss of my left periphal vision effects everything I do from crossing the road to basic mobility essentials. I am now facing a life with steep personal challenges, and as I am so young it can sometimes be a lonely struggle, but I do have a life ahead and I want to make it the best I can.

Even though there will be struggles ahead and I do still have days when I am feeling down, I have met people who are less fortunate than me and are feeling lonely and less motivated. What has happened to me has made me realise how I can and want to help other people in the same situation as me, they do not have the family to support them and to give them encouragement. I would love to be able to give back to those less fortunate than myself, perhaps by going onto stroke wards at hospitals to motivate stroke survivors or going into schools to give talks on how strokes can happen to young people.