An inspirational man who beat the odds to overcome a “devastating” stroke is today embarking on a 90-mile hike as the UK marks Stroke Awareness Month.
Paisley's Andy Ward suffered a haemorrhagic stroke on September 20, 2022 at just 52 years old.
The brain bleed left the incredibly fit and healthy businessman with severe aphasia – a condition that meant he was unable to speak, write, count or make sense of words, dates and times.
Unable to speak at all for the first three weeks, Andy was told by medics he was likely to only recover 15 per cent of his speech in the next two to four years.
But the determined Buddie refused to give up and was holding full conversations within a few months.
Today, he is walking the West Highland Way to raise funds for Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland.
“The stroke was just devastating,” Andy told the Paisley Daily Express. “To not be able to speak or communicate was unbelievable, you’re essentially locked in your own head.
“On the Friday night in the hospital I was told that I would likely get 15 per cent of my speech back in four years and potentially have learning difficulties and that was terrifying.
“But I got up the next day, had a shower and told myself with a few choice words there was no way this going to stop me.”
Andy had suffered his stroke in his sleep. He and his wife, Linda Brown, had been in Killarney, Ireland, and, back home, he went to bed early thinking his weariness was the after-effects of too much Guinness.
But when he woke up and attempted to speak to Linda, nothing came out. When he looked in the mirror, he could see the visible sloping of his mouth.
Linda drove him to Royal Alexandra Hospital where he said he received the most amazing care and support, which Andy says kickstarted his road to recovery.
“The people I had in the RAH were nothing short of miraculous,” he said. “They were all incredible people, I can’t stress that enough.
“From the girl in the hygiene team who cleaned the room in the morning, who spoke to me every day and wasn’t bothered that I couldn’t speak back, or who I was before the stroke, to the nurses who sat with me through the night when I was having seizures and Facetimed my friends and family when I couldn’t remember how to use my phone; they were all unbelievable.
“Also, the A&E doctor who said to me, it’s all about rest and recovery and you will come back and you will speak to me.
“They gave me hope that I would get through it. I went back to see him last week.”
Andy, who was a mental health champion at work and had been used to practising mindfulness, said this, together with breathing exercises, being present and having a positive outlook helped him focus on getting better.
He set what initially were “impossible goals” such as saying his wife’s name, getting the train and taking a telephone call. He then accepted an invitation to speak to 50 speech and language therapists at a conference in Glasgow.
“For me, my job as an executive director of a company, one of my main jobs was to talk to customers, to make speeches at international events,” he said. “I never thought I would get back to that.”
He continued: “When I spoke at that conference as a stroke survivor, that was the best moment of my life. I thought from here on in it’s about having a positive mindset.”
Andy has continued to make incredible progress, astounding the speech and language and occupational therapists he has been working with at the RAH.
Continuing to push himself, he is returning to his hill walking routes and taking on the West Highland Way.
The challenge will raise funds for Chest, Heart and Stroke which runs support groups across Renfrewshire for stroke survivors.
Andy added: “I’m glad to say that my progress has been quicker than I had expected, and Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland has played an important part of that recovery process.
“When I was discharged from hospital, I was immediately put in touch with Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland.
“Through attending their local community stroke group, I was able meet with fellow stroke survivors and regain my confidence through shared discussions of stroke and recovery processes.
“With May being Stroke Awareness Month, and to repay in some small way the help of Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland, I will be attempting to walk the full West Highland Way from Glasgow to Fort William from May 1.
“The fundraiser, I hope, will also raise awareness of the sudden and devastating effects from a stroke and the condition of Aphasia.”
To sponsor Andy, log on to https://www.justgiving.com/page/andy-ward-1682615566735
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