Young Crumlin stroke survivor takes on Resolution Run
MANY annual resolutions focus on personal improvements – eat healthier, join a gym, read more, but one local woman made hers to take part in the Stroke Association charity’s Belfast Resolution Run to help raise vital funds for stroke in Northern Ireland.
Linda Maguire (33) from Crumlin was one of the runners who took part in the Resolution Run on Sunday.
At the age of 28, she suffered from a stroke while she was pregnant.
Linda said: “All of a sudden I felt stabbing pains in my neck and the back of my head along with a weakness on my left side.
“I was confused and my speech was sounding slurred. My husband brought me to A&E at my local hospital where I was advised I was too young for it to be anything serious, it was probably just a migraine and I was sent home.
“However, I knew something was wrong so I went to my own GP who referred me to a neurologist at the Royal. He confirmed I had taken a stroke and also that I was pregnant.
“My first concern was my baby but they couldn’t do an MRI scan until I was twelve weeks. Thankfully my son was ok but I felt completely exhausted for several weeks; I still have a weakness on my left side and am on aspirin for the foreseeable future.
“Since my stroke, I have been determined to live as full a life as possible and am proud to say I have completed a few marathons!
“I really wanted to participate in the Stroke Association’s 5k and 10k Resolution Run to help raise funds to help support the valuable work of the Stroke Association and to help people have a better understanding of the effects of stroke on both the individual and their family.
“I didn’t think someone my age could have a stroke and I want to make people aware that it can happen to anyone at any time, at any age.”
Each year in Northern Ireland, an estimated 4,000 people have a stroke. That’s one person every two hours.
Stroke has a devastating impact on an individual, is the single biggest cause of severe disability in the UK and the third most common cause of death.
For many people a stroke happens suddenly and without warning and contrary to common belief, it can happen to anyone at any age – even babies in the womb.
There are currently 32,998 stroke survivors in Northern Ireland and over 10,000 people living with aphasia, a devastating communication disability caused by stroke.
For more information, visit the Stroke Association’s website www.stroke.org.uk/FAST
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Weather for Antrim
Wednesday 22 May 2013
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