Life after stroke 11
SPRING/SUMMER 2011
Couple worked as a team to nurse Ronnie back to health Sacrifice, pain and frustration has been no match for Ronnie and Anne Marshall’s 63 year marraige after the couple worked together to ease the side effects of stroke. Ronnie has been going to Carlisle Stroke Club since he came out of hospital, almost four years ago after suffering a stroke the night before the couple’s diamond wedding anniversary celebrations. The couple met when Ronnie was based in Austria with the army and moved to Carlisle as a couple in 1948. “The biggest problem for me is the frustration; I know exactly what I want to do, but I can’t do it.” Ronnie said. Ronnie had a lot of trouble reading and writing in the early stages of his stroke because of the impairment his vision and grip, but “we sat in the kitchen for hours and persevered with it” Anne said. “Now he is able to read the paper again.” As a result of stroke, Ronnie and Anne were forced to give up their car, their garden and much of their social life, Ronnie added: “It has had a big impact on our lives; generally speaking, the only night we get out is the Tuesday nights at the stroke club We wouldn’t be able to go to the meetings if it wasn’t for the transport that Carlisle Stroke Club provides. They are very good that way. I really enjoy Dr Davies’ slideshows, they are really informative and he tells me things in plain English.” The couple has made made a lot of friends at the stroke club and they believe that meeting people “on the same wavelength” has helped them come to terms with stroke. “We have always been close and have never been without each other. That is the main thing and it has brought us closer together. You have to deal with this the best way you can and support each other.”
“We’ve got to be strong and make the best of a bad job ” The couple believes that donations to Carlisle Stroke Club are vital: “they wouldn’t be able to do what they do without them. The lasses that volunteer there are so good” Ronnie added. Anne believes that a lot of people don’t understand stroke until it hits them. Anne said: “You realise what a huge impact it has on your life. It turns your life upside down. Ronnie gets pain now that he never used to have which causes him a lot of discomfort, which he says is one of the worst side effects of his stroke. “He’s not getting any younger, so we just hope his symptoms don’t get any worse, as long as that doesn’t happen, we will be happy. We have a nice house, a lovely family and each other, so it could be worse. We’ve just got to get on with it.” Ronnie and Anne boast an impressive family, with three sons, eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren – the youngest of which is only two months old. “They try to help us as much as they can. The family takes us shopping on the weekend and come to see us at the house
Just the two of us: Ronnie and Anne have helped each other come to terms with stroke and get on with life.
on some evenings.” Since he had the stroke, Ronnie finds it difficult to pick things up, such as concepts and some words, as easily as he used to. “His memory is still quite good, his speech is ok but his left side has been impacted from a clot on the right side of his brain, making it very weak.” Anne added. When Ronnie fell ill, he complained of pain in his left leg and in his right arm: “I knew straight away that it was a stroke; call it my nurse’s instinct! said Anne Ronnie has accepted that he will never get his full movement back; even though he does all of his exercises and does what the physio tells him to do. Although the couple find it difficult to get out of the house, Anne is optimistic that they won’t be this way forever:“Now that we have 2 wheelchairs, we can go out on the bus and out for walks. We’re thinking of attempting Houghton Hall soon.We are better off than lots of other people; we have seen some pitiful cases of stroke sufferers. But we have to be strong and make the best of a bad job.”
Volunteer Celebration Event Volunteers from all over the county have been invited to celebrate the work they do as part of volunteers week which runs from the 1st to the 7th of June. The Volunteers Celebration Event will be held at the Tithe Barn in Carlisle on Monday 6th of June, starting at 12pm. Each organization that has registered will receive a certificate on the day as recognition of the work they do. Individual volunteer certificates will also be available upon request. The organizers are asking those who take part to put together a creative package to showcase the help and support they offer. Anybody wishing to attend should have their place booked before Friday 20th of May. For more information, contact Cumbria CVS on 01228 512513.