As some of you may or may not know in September 2018 I had a Stroke, affecting the left side of my Cerebellum.

Around lunchtime on an ordinary Tuesday, I felt a sharp pain in my head and came over incredibly dizzy. At 25, despite the uneasy feeling, I tried to reassure myself that I was just dehydrated, had low blood sugar or convince myself of any other reason than something serious or sinister.

Whilst trying to calm down and switch my focus back to work, I found myself unable to write with my left hand, the words running away on the paper. I decided to get up and get a glass of water.

After walking like Bambi with, what I now know to be, an ataxic gait I began to panic and went to the work canteen to get something to eat.

When ordering my food at the canteen, the words needed to be forced out of my mouth, like they were almost getting lost and stuck in my cheeks.

Whilst trying to eat my lunch and make myself feel better my wonderful colleagues were trying to distract me and make conversation. I felt like I couldn't take it all in, the noises, smells, lights, like everything was amplified and it became quite overwhelming, my vision became blurry and the panic set in, as did the tears!

I removed myself from the situation to calm down. Still in disbelief, instead of leaving work to go to a hospital I asked a colleague to take my patients for the first half of the afternoon. With my speech still challenging me and typing with my left hand like a Nan texting, I pushed through to the end of the working day, Googling in between patients.

After going home to my wonderful family, 'Mother's Instinct' kicked in and my amazing Mum pushed for a Doctors appointment and MRI and the rest is history....

MRI - Stroke - Neurology - Aspirin - Cardiology - 6 weeks grounded.

Anticoagulants, Statins and 6 years later it is still difficult to process.

On the outside I am a normal 31 year old woman, navigating this wonderful life. On the inside, I battle daily with my speech, often saying the wrong word or not being able to find the correct word and just stuttering. I continue to struggle with a lot of health anxiety especially around episodes of dizziness or headache.

I have however been incredibly fortunate to get to enjoy some amazing bucket list experiences, hopefully the photos I have included change your idea of life after Stroke.

With everything it has been through my body and my brain are pretty remarkable. I am running the Marathon to prove to myself that my body and my brain can be pushed physically and mentally.

I hope this page and my Marathon journey helps -

To raise awareness that Stroke happens in young people! I was 25!

To educate people on the different Signs and Symptoms.

To raise money to support future Research and Development.

To understand the psychological battle a functionally fit Stroke Survivor may be struggling with.

To encourage everyone to be a bit kinder - You never know what is going on behind the 'fine, all good thanks' facade.

To tell you to give your loved ones a big cuddle if you haven't done so enough recently - Mine are absolute LEGENDS!

Thank you in advance for any visits to this page, it means the world!

All my love,

Chloe