My ex-husband took me to Whipps Cross Hospital by in a coma. My younger son found me on his return from school, on the floor. It appeared I had fallen down the open-plan stairs (no banister.) He rang my ex-husband because he couldn't wake me up. Doctors thought I was in the coma because of the fall. It wasn't until further investigation that a Stroke was diagnosed. The coma went on for 2 or 3 weeks. Coming in & out of the haze (all I wanted to do was sleep) I knew I was in a hospital, but I was not aware why. My family kept it from my mother for four days afraid of what it may do to an 85 year old woman. It broke her heart when she was finally told & came to see me. I didn't know who she was or whether I was married or not, or had any children. But worst of all it never occurred to be me that I didn't know all these things! The whole time I kept thinking I 'll come out of this nightmare soon & be able to figure it all out. I was aware of the bruises down my body & the bandages on my head. As to anything else it was all very vague. Family & friends have had to fill in most of my experiences at Whipps Cross Hospital. My weight went down to 5st 7lbs and I was fitted with a Catheter because I had no control over my internal body. I was put in an isolation ward because I contracted MRSA (a blood disorder), my friends & family had to wear protective clothing plastic gloves. I couldn't talk or walk my hearing & vision had been affected. In this room the staff had to put the mattress on the floor because I keep trying to get out of the bed and banging my legs on the cot side. I was tube fed & later spoon-feed with pureed food by a nurse or my twin sister. Because I couldn't swollow, I was fed 3 thick vitamin & mineral drinks a day in order to try & gain some weight. On the third or fourth week I as given a wheelchair it was a change from the bed. I was sleeping day & night. The highlight of the day was when friends came & wheeled me down to the Day room. One friend had the idea of giving me some paper & a pen to try & communicate but all I could do was scribble & make doodle's and became frustrated when they didn't understand what I was trying to say. Apparently the physiotherapist took me down to the gym daily to work on my muscles. Although I have no memory of this. It's very easy to become integrated into hospital procedure. One memory I have was ….. In the isolation room looking through the windows thinking one day soon I'll climb down the drainpipe find a phone box call for a cab and go home. It's funny looking back I couldn't even walk let alone climb down a drainpipe! Another memory … I was back out in the ward & after being lifted into the wheelchair I thought I'll make my way down to the end of the ward & head for the lift go down two floors & into the day room. I could hear the nurse's laughing & saying "here she goes again" because all I managed to do was travel around & around in the chair. Because the right side wasn't working! This was all done with good nature. There is one thing I didn't understand (three months later) all the other patients seem to be going home & I was being transferred to the RNRU Homerton Hospital.

This is at the Regional Neurological Rehabilitation Unit {R.N.R.U.} of the Homerton Hospital where I was transferred from Whipps Cross Hospital on the 5th March 1997. It was at this specialist unit that I began my recovery.

My first experience of the R.N.R.U. was very confusing because it was unlike any hospital I'd ever been in. Instead of wards there were bays which housed 4 or 5 beds.

The unit was in a circle with rooms off of it for different activities. All were based on rebuilding peoples life. It included the main dinning room used by all the patients, a gym for physiotherapy, a laundry, 2 fully equipped kitchens, 3 bathrooms, a workshop, 2 day rooms with T.V.'s and Computer room. The flatlette which had it's own bathroom and kitchen. Fortunately I progressed to moving in there for the last 4 weeks. A Programme (time-table) was pinned-up on your locker of the week's lessons for you.

I was discharged from all hospitals on the 21.8.97. having had my stroke on the 10.12.96. On discharge from the R.N.R.U. I received 2 years from the 'Outreach Team' and with this excellent service I was visited by a speech typist, occupational therapist, and physiotherapist every week all at my home.

I do my physiotherapy exercises religiously everyday. Although it's hard to keep up the motivation after 31/2 years (at this time of typing) since my "brains were scrambled" I have taken part in the Botulinum Toxin research scheme at The National Hospital for Neurology Queens Sq., S.W.1. This involved injections [of toxin ] given to muscles in my right leg & arm to relax them in order that the physiotherapist could give me exercises to help in my mobility. Also I was a ' test' patient for senior therapists gaining experience in the assessment of people who have hemiplegia [weakness of one side of their body ] titled the Bobath Course held the Homerton Hospital.

  THE NATIONAL HOSPITAL FOR NEUROLOGY .W.C.1.

I attend the National Hospital to see Senior physiotherapist Davina Richardson. At first once a week, then every fortnight, once a month, & now every 4 months. I first met her at the R.N.R.U. were she visited me, and I continued to see her when I was discharged from hospital. She will never know the knowledge she possesses and pass's on, that gives hope to people like me. She is also Dr. Greenwood's (from the R.N.R.U.) research assistant. 

  The Long journey back