Survivor Stories

Portrait: David C image

Portrait: David C

Many years of keen cycling concluded with a serious accident and Traumatic Brain Injury, August 2018. Unprepared, I went from enjoying a responsible job, to months in hospital and years of recovery.  

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Portrait: Kenneth image

Portrait: Kenneth

I’m a congenital arterial-venous hemorrhage stroke survivor from a rupture in 2016. The rupture knocked me out in my own home leaving me untreated for 20 hours before being found and rushed to the hospital.

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Portrait: Chris image

Portrait: Chris

12 years ago, at the age of 43, I very unexpectedly suffered a severe hemorrhagic stroke. I was fit and healthy at the time, my consultant even remarked that I was the last person he expected to have a stroke.

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Portrait: Peter image

Portrait: Peter

I had just retired at the age of 58. I was looking forward to restoring our quirky Georgian house, with plans for a B&B. I had dreamt of this as our retirement project. Then “bang” the explosion.

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Portrait: Ryley image

Portrait: Ryley

Ryley had a stroke in January 2021, aged 9 years old, causing right sided weakness and speech difficulties.

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Portrait: David image

Portrait: David

I was 19 when I was t-boned in a little 1997 Mazda Miata by a full-size truck. At the hospital, I didn't understand what was going on.

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Portrait: Eva image

Portrait: Eva

In June 2019 I had a subarachnoid haemorrhage, due to a burst brain aneurysm. Optimism and determination were essential to my recovery.

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Portrait: Stacie image

Portrait: Stacie

In January 2019 I had a frontal craniotomy to remove a cyst which may have been causing several grand mal seizures. Little did I know this would present a whole new set of challenges.

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Portrait: Axel image

Portrait: Axel

At the age of 11, Axel survived my subarachnoid hemorrhage. Life hasn’t been too bad. I’m grateful for what I’ve been able to do, despite my limits.

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Portrait: Alan image

Portrait: Alan

At the age of 42, I had a brain haemorrhage and aphasia, which is a communication disorder. After the operation I couldn’t speak for two years. My social network fell apart.

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Portrait: Andy image

Portrait: Andy

8th June 2020, I woke up and something didn't feel right. I couldn't seem to get comfortable on my right side. In fact, that whole side felt weird.

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Portrait: Anna image

Portrait: Anna

In October 2021, I was on the way back from a university rugby match when the vehicle I was travelling in was in a car accident. Everyone was unharmed but shortly after I had a massive headache. The next morning, I went to A&E with slurred speech, head pain and (unbeknownst at the time) a TIA.

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Portrait: Lizzy image

Portrait: Lizzy

I am a survivor of an inoperable benign brain tumor. They gave me two weeks to live but I was blessed with a wonderful doctor who was able to get the brain tumor completely removed from my head.

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Portrait: Mark image

Portrait: Mark

I was 33 years old when I had a Non-Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. I remember the exact moment it happened; my mouth lost all its saliva, and I became dizzy. I went and sat down and immediately felt a sudden rush from my spine to the top of my head.

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Portrait: Glen image

Portrait: Glen

I was 33 years old when I had my stroke. When I got to the hospital the doctor who greeted me at the door was one of my clients who is stroke specialist, so I knew they suspected that this might be the issue.

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Portrait: Morena image

Portrait: Morena

I am a young stroke survivor from Brazil. As an architect and also a Makeup Artist, I have always loved anything that would allow me to express myself and impact others in a positive way.

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Portrait: Stephen image

Portrait: Stephen

I got hit by a car in June 2015. I suffered from 3 brain hemorrhages, a broken neck and an ABI.

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Portrait: Kevin image

Portrait: Kevin

Back in 2015 I was an alcoholic battling suspected PTSD. One night I developed aspirated pneumonia. I was rushed to the hospital. From there, I spent weeks on a ventilator.

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Portrait: Elizabeth image

Portrait: Elizabeth

I’m a media producer and a survivor of a ruptured AVM that happened in 1990 when I was thirty years old. 

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Portrait: Jenny image

Portrait: Jenny

In May 2019, aged 32 years old, I contracted encephalitis. It started as a headache at the base of my skull, dizziness and vomiting. The hospital diagnosed me with migraine and vertigo before sending me back home.

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