Alison Reidy was a fit and healthy 38-year-old who had recently completed a personal best time in Parkrun when stroke changed her life in February, 2022.
After battling persistent headaches, fatigue and dizziness, Ali booked in to see her GP. While in the waiting room, she lost her balance and the vision in her left eye. She was sent straight to emergency where she was told she'd had a stroke.
"It was a really challenging time in hospital, I was dealing with aphasia, mobility and cognition issues, and insomnia. I was also extremely lonely. Because of the COVID lockdowns, I had no visitors for 10 days," Ali said.
"I was sent to hospital rehab, but the specialists said there was no further progress to be made in that program. After four days I asked to be discharged and started my own self-lead rehab at home."
Two and a half years after her stroke, Ali still does rehab every day.
"The love and support from my family has been invaluable. I have good and bad days, but I am so lucky to still be here and able to fulfil most of my needs myself. I have learned to navigate the world differently and I manage my 'invisible impacts' as a result of the stroke."
Ali has returned to Parkrun as a volunteer, a role she finds very rewarding. She's also a member of her local athletics club, founder of the Darwin Stroke Support Group, and serves the Stoke Foundation Consumer Council to provide a voice for other survivors of stroke and their families.
Ali is sharing her story as part of National Stroke Week (August 5-11) which encourages people to learn the F.A.S.T. (Face, Arms, Speech and Time) message to ensure they can save the life of a loved one if they have a stroke.
Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer Dr Lisa Murphy said Ali is among the 2,500 survivors of stroke living in the Northern Territory.
"Ali's story is an example that stroke can happen to anyone, at any time. When a stroke strokes, it kills up to 1.9 million brain cells per minute which is why it's so important to get that person urgent medical attention," Dr Murphy said.
"The faster a stroke patient gets to hospital and receives medical treatment, the better their chance of survival and successful rehabilitation. You can help saving a life by learning the F.A.S.T. signs of stroke."
Think F.A.S.T and ask these questions:
Face - Check their face. Has their mouth drooped?
Arms - Can they lift both arms?
Speech - Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?
Time - Time is critical. If you see any of these signs, call 000 straight away.
