My name is Claire and I am 23 years old.

As you may or may not be aware 2013 has been a terrible year for me and my family.

Sunday 6th of January was a normal day. We ate dinner as a family and rowed about the washing up and then I went to bed, however little did I know my life was about to change.

My dad woke me saying I needed to call for an ambulance as my mum couldnt breathe. As I called 999 I rushed downstairs to find my mum gasping for air. She had suffered from COPD for a long time so seeing her fighting for her breath wasn't unusual however tonight it was much worse. However I couldn't help but think once at hospital she would be okay and discharged the same evening.

About an hour later I got a call off my dad in tears. He told me that me and my sister Joleen had to get to the hospital asap as my mum was very poorly. 

When we got to the hospital we were told that my mums lungs were very bad and the doctors had made the decision to put her on a ventilator (life support machine). My world came crashing down around me. I couldnt believe what I was hearing. She had to be okay, we are too young to lose our mum. Its the year of Joleens 21st, mum had to be there. We just couldnt lose her.

Over the next two weeks my mum was kept alive on the ventilator. The Doctors tried taking her off it twice but had to put her back on it as she couldnt breathe for herself.

It was such an emotional rollercoaster over the next two weeks. We were told good news and then knocked back by bad news.

Whilst being on the ventilator our mum had a stroke. Just when we thought things couldnt get any worse.

Gradually mum began to get stronger and her tracheostomy was removed and she moved from the critical care ward to the stroke medicine ward.

Mum was so weak and had lost the use of her left side. But over the next 4 and a half months with the help of all the doctors, nurses and physiotherapists mum got stronger and eventually took her first steps with the aid of a stick.

We eventually got the best news ever....our mum was coming home!!!  The praying everyone did for my mum worked. My mum kept smiling throughout this whole ordeal, she never gave up and was so brave and determined. 

This has changed our lives and been a real eye opener. We couldnt of got through this without the help from the stroke association. This is why we are raising money for them by doing a sponsered walk. Wouldnt you want to help someone who helped save someone you love.

My mum still hasnt got use of her left side and can only walk a few steps however mum is determined to walk a few steps for charity.

Thank you so much for your support and sponser money.

 

 

 

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