The Stroke ‘FAST’ test:

• Face: Can the person smile? Has their face fallen on one side?

• Arms: Can the person raise both arms and keep them there?

• Speech problems: Can the person speak clearly and understand what you say? Is their speech slurred?

• Time: if you see any of these three signs, it's time to call 999.

We had seen the advert a hundred times but never did we think this would happen to us; to someone in our family so young, fit and healthy! But it has, in the worst possible way.

Rob was loving life as a 44 year old self employed landscape gardener with a beautiful family, never ill, hadn’t been to a doctor for years. So when he went to bed with a headache on the 24th September 2017 no one thought twice about it. What happened next has shocked the family to its core and left his children without a father, his wife without a husband and an irreplaceable hole in the lives of every other family member as well as his many friends.

Rob suffered a massive stroke that ultimately took his life. It happened so quickly. He was off colour, had a headache then suddenly showed the signs we had seen on the advert. Unbelievably, within 36 hours, we had lost him.

We have made this page with two aims:

1. We are hoping to raise money to help Katie in this unbearable time of heartbreak. Katie faces certain financial challenges now and in the coming months, which the family would like to try and ease by raising money to help. If donations can be made in lieu of sending flowers to the funeral or, simply, if you can spare anything to help, it would be greatly appreciated and will go a long way towards helping Katie at this incredibly difficult time.

Katie has been left without the pivotal member of her family, the breadwinner, the heartbeat. Rob and Katie were the happiest couple and their family unit was one of unbelievable love, warmth and fun. Their lives been turned upside down and we want to do what we can to help cushion the blow and hope you share our sentiment. In the event of anything being raised above or beyond immediate monetary needs, this will be set aside to help Rob’s children.

2. To bring awareness to the dangers of a stroke. We hope to draw everyone’s attention to the fact that a stroke CAN happen to ANYONE, no matter your age or if you think you are healthy. This is especially important in light of recent research detecting a rise in the number of strokes amongst people below the age of 55. Please be aware of your family, friends, colleagues or even just people around you as you go about your daily business, as it really is massively important to ACT FAST if you notice any of the signs.

You can change the outcome if you get the medical assistance a person needs early.

You can save someone’s life.

Unfortunately, despite quick action from Katie, it was not possible to save Rob due to the severity of his stroke. But this will not always be the case; you may be able to make an enormous difference to someone’s life, just by recognising the symptoms and acting FAST.

Please click on the link and look at The Stroke Association’s website and ensure you know the signs to look out for: https://www.stroke.org.uk/what-stroke/what-happens-when-you-have-stroke/what-are-symptoms-stroke

Thank you, from all of Rob’s family.