I'm running the Great Manchester Run for the Stroke Association!
Participants: Chloe banks, Thomas Metcalfe
Participants: Chloe banks, Thomas Metcalfe
Great Manchester Run 2021 · 26 September 2021 ·
I'm running the Great Manchester Run for #TeamStroke! I don’t think anyone knows this apart from close family and friends but September 2020, stated a dark journey for our family, Sebastian who was 4 at the time, had his first stroke, I cant say at that moment at 1 in the morning I knew what it was, but even as we rang 999 we described it as a stroke, not really thinking for one second it would be, because if you’re like me you didn’t even know young people were effected by them. Even the paramedics and A&E staff didn’t seem too concerned after monitoring him he was sent home with a possible epilepsy diagnosis. Then in October he had 2 more strokes, all three limiting use in the right side of his body and face. Here we are 6 months down the line, thankfully no more strokes and unbelievably to us and the doctors and specialist involved, at the LGI and BRI, he walked away from this physically well, he had a few mobility issues, but they’re minor considering the brain damage is on the part of the brain that effects mobility he’s pretty amazing.. He suffered a full stroke and a mini stroke, however Sebastians diagnoses had not been found yet we are awaiting genetics and a multitude of other results to come back in, he is on medication every day to keep them at bay. The whole reason we have decided to run a half marathon, is to raise awareness and maybe someone out there is going through the same thing. 400 children a year from 0-18 have a stroke in the UK and there is still not much known, 10% of them could walk away with not knowing what caused the stroke and not knowing if it could happen again. We were very lucky, he’s a happy and otherwise healthy boy. Sebastian has a lot of up hill battles as we do as parents, because emotionally it’s created a whole other monster to contend with at times. But hopefully in doing this I might get some more people talking and just to know what to look out for and know it’s possible without scaring you. I’m incredibly proud of him, we’ve spent many of weeks and days in hospital and even though he’s tired and wants it to stop he keeps going. So please give what you can and hopefully in years to come the information and science for child strokes will be far more detailed than it is now.
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