A Stroke of Luck
- hammett193
- Nov 22, 2025
- 5 min read
100,000.
That’s approximately the number of people each year who have a stroke, according to the Stroke Association. On 29th June 2022, I became part of that statistic as my life changed forever. Whilst closing a Toastmasters meeting, I suffered a stroke.
Hang on a minute. Only old people have strokes, don’t they?
Well, anyone can have a stroke. This is the story of how I bounced back from a life-changing event.
A stroke is defined as the loss of blood supply to the brain, causing damage to the tissue. Some strokes, like mine, involve bleeding.
I spent three weeks in hospital recovering in what can only be described as a living nightmare, with injections, tubes and all sorts of tests being carried out. My anxiety went through the roof. Would I have another stroke? Would I be in pain? My mind was racing around, desperate for answers.
“Will I ever walk again?”, I asked a doctor.
The doctor looked evasive and said, “Every stroke is different; we can’t guarantee whether you will walk again.”
Imagine that, the possibility of never being able to walk again.
Now I had even more questions! Perhaps I was staying at the Hotel California? You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave…
During my first week in hospital, I dreamed of walking myself to the toilet, something I was unable to do, being bedbound. As my mentor said to me, “You're only leaving hospital if you can walk out.” I visualised what walking out of hospital would look like. That vision gave me the belief I needed. After that, I never stopped believing. I told myself YOU ARE WALKING OUT, whether you like it or not.
The first signs of recovery were being able to clench my fist. From then on, I was determined to have my life back. Standing up was hard work at first. I still felt drunk, like something was sloshing around upstairs. One of the stroke doctors got me to stand with her for 6 minutes.
It seemed like a lifetime, but I managed it.
Walking seemed impossible but I knew I had to do it. My independence was at stake. How could something so mundane as walking turn into climbing a mountain? I did have good movement in my legs and arms though. That spurred me on. I wasn’t going to give up. I eagerly awaited my daily physio sessions, determined to make the most of them.
My progress was quick, from a frame to a quad stick in a day. By week three in the hospital, I was able to walk myself to the toilet. You have no idea what kind of luxury that represented. No more calling the nurse, asking for a bottle.
My dream now was to go home. Would I ever leave the Hotel California?
Whilst the medical team at the hospital were impressed with my progress, they still took some convincing to allow me home. Several planning meetings later, finally, my dream came true! No more bland hospital food.
But my journey wasn’t over. More physio sessions followed at home, aimed at improving my balance and left side weakness. I set myself some goals. To walk unaided by Christmas, and return to work full-time. I told myself both goals were non-negotiable. They became MUSTS. Stick free by Christmas, I told myself.
I practiced walking daily, starting with up and down the corridor. Whilst my muscles were weaker, the brain still remembered what walking used to be like, one foot in front of the other. It took a bit of time to regain my balance again, but as I did so, I went from the corridor to outside. I gave myself a small goal of walking to the park and back.
I found myself holding the stick in my left hand for a few steps, ignoring the temptation to use it. Gradually, the steps increased until I could confidently walk around the park stick-free.
Work was the next challenge. I was lucky enough to be given a phased return by the MOD over three months. I pushed myself constantly, gradually increasing my work hours week by week. I’m pleased to announce that both of my goals have been achieved.
I’ve been full-time at work since January, and as for the stick, I think I’ll sell it on eBay!
Strokes can be very disabling, with survivors often unable to mobilise and speak. In some ways, I got lucky. Over a year later, and my life has some degree of normality.
None of us knows what the future holds; what happened to me can happen to anyone. Perhaps I have been given a second chance at life. I am, however, reminded by something one of the stroke nurses told me: “Enjoy the health you have. Don’t take it for granted.”
This was a speech I delievered to Riverside Communicators in 2023 as part of my recovery, and I am pleased to say won me best speech. - Duncan Hammett, Past President Riverside Communicators 2022 - 2023
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Stroke Q&A
What does it feel like to experience a stroke?
It was like a drunk, out of body experience. Nothing seemed real. I remember staggering on stage, hoping the audience wouldn’t notice anything. I became aware of numbness on my left side as well. At the time, I had no idea it was a stroke, and I’m told I wasn’t displaying any of the critical signs (more about those later).
I remember when I got to A&E, I felt tired. The nurses would not let me sleep; they would periodically prod me awake. I suspect if I had closed my eyes, it might have been the end.
What caused your stoke?
In my case, high blood pressure. That’s actually the biggest cause of strokes in the UK, and often goes undetected. I do know I was incredibly stressed the day it happened, so I would say there is a link between stress and blood pressure. I think it's important for all of us to manage stress before something like a stroke hits us.
How is your life different now to before the stroke?
I am lucky that many of the things I did pre stroke I can still undertake. Lots of physical movement such as walking can be tiring, and standing is an issue. It feels like standing one leg. My left side is completely numb; I have been told it's unlikely to regain feeling.
I now check my blood pressure regularly, once, or twice a week. It's my early warning system, as I’m at risk from having another stroke.
What are the critical signs someone should look out for?
When someone is experiencing a stroke, the acronym FAST should be applied:
F = Face
One side of the face may droop significantly, particularly around the mouth.
A = Arms
Strokes tend to affect one side of the body, usually the opposite side to where it is occurring in the brain. If the patient is unable to raise both arms in front and hold them there, it is a big sign something is wrong.
S = Speech
The slurring of words or the inability to talk properly is another sign.
T = Time
If you suspect someone is having a stroke, seconds count. They need to get to a hospital ASAP. The longer it takes, the more extensive the damage caused is. Other indicators are the loss of balance and memory.
What resources are available to stroke victims?
The big one is the Stroke Association. Not long after I was discharged from hospital, I was contacted by the local coordinator. The Stroke Association has lots of help and advice for stroke victims and their families.
Physiotherapy is an important part of stroke recovery, and finding a specialist neuro physio is challenging. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy has a searchable database of nuero physios.
There are several good YouTube channels run by experts in stroke recovery, such as Rehab HQ.
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