At the Third Stroke…


Apart from Dad’s sciatica my parents enjoyed good health for most of their lives but a stroke got them in the end – my father in his eighties and my mother in her nineties. Dad smoked most of his life but I think it was the frequent flying that exacerbated things – flying to Portugal and the States 2 or 3 times a year to visit my sister and house- sit for her. Towards the end Mum emigrated - aged 90, and one year did nine flights. It was their choice and no amount of pleading from me had any effect.

There is an excellent public health information ad on TV at present and as some of you don’t watch TV I’m passing it on with the rider that a stroke can occur at any age; the trick is to spot it before it does its worst.

There are just 4 things to watch for – remember FAST

F- face – is there a drooping on one side of the face?

A – arms – can they raise their arms above their heads and keep them there?

S – speech – is there a slurring in their speech?

T – time – is of the essence. Dial 999. The quicker the response, the less damage is done.

The ad can be seen on you tube.