Heath

Before his stroke, Heath worked full-time in a challenging and busy job. At weekends, he enjoyed days out, meeting friends for meals and spending time with his family.

Heath’s close bond with his son meant that he was often at his son’s house. He could easily lose himself in the garden, or spend hours getting stuck into jobs – anything to help wherever he could.

To relax, Heath was well-known for his trips to Portugal, a place that felt like a second home to him. For over a decade, he travelled there with friends and family – two weeks at a time, twice a year. Life was busy, and full of moments he loved.

Shortly after his birthday, in the summer of 2023, Heath collapsed suddenly in the shower. He had suffered a subarachnoid haemorrhage - a rare type of stroke that causes bleeding on the brain. What followed was a major category one emergency, with two ambulances, four paramedics, and two first responders arriving at his home.

When rushed to hospital, the medical team considered a procedure called endovascular coiling. As it was Friday afternoon, the operation couldn’t be performed until Monday, but time wasn’t on their side. Airlifting Heath to another hospital felt too risky. Instead, he bravely underwent a craniotomy later that day. With his family by his side, Heath was given just a 30% chance of surviving and was placed in a coma.

The Wider Impact of Stroke

Waking up from the coma was a huge shock. Heath didn’t know where he was, or what had happened. Over the course of a month, he spent his days in intensive care, the high dependency unity and a recovery ward. The care he needed was complex and unfortunately led to further complications, including pneumonia. It also had a significant impact on his physical mobility, meaning Heath relied on a wheelchair as he worked to regain his independence.

The experience was incredibly traumatic for Heath, and much of what happened during this time remains difficult for him to remember. He had little awareness of what was happening until he woke up in hospital and still struggles to recall parts of those early days. What Heath does remember is the support that surrounded him.

The start of Heath’s recovery journey involved a wide range of professionals and organisations. From the hospital, Heath was in regular contact with the stroke and neurology teams. Their holistic approach involved a speech and language therapist, psychologist, dietician, physiotherapist, occupational therapist and fatigue management support. He was also referred to charities including Second Chance Headway and Aphasia Support.

This collaborative approach felt particularly important, with everyone working towards the same goals. Heath’s friends, family and colleagues were also instrumental in supporting him through an incredibly difficult time.

“I lost my independence; I became completely reliant on family and friends for support with simple day to day tasks.”

Following a lengthy and complex stay in hospital, Heath was able to return home under the care of St Mary’s Community Nursing Stroke Team in Leeds.

Living with Aphasia

Following his stroke, Heath was diagnosed with aphasia - a condition he’d never heard of that suddenly changed his life. At the time, Heath remembers knowing exactly what he wanted to say and feeling upset, frustrated and angry when the words just wouldn’t come out.

“I found speaking, reading and writing the hardest. I couldn’t say my name or put sentences together, let alone even begin to complete simple forms or send a text message. It made me feel incredibly frustrated and quite teary at times.”

Alongside this, Heath experienced difficulties with processing and retaining information, cognition, sequencing, organisation and problem solving.

“Those simple day-to-day tasks that you take for granted were really challenging. I had to go back to basics and learn how to talk and walk again, or making a cup of tea.”

He found himself increasingly isolated and, for a long time, was largely housebound. Everyday situations that he had once taken for granted became extremely difficult. With much of his independence lost and his return to work put on hold, Heath quickly felt disconnected from the people, places and routines that had once been part of everyday life.

“I felt isolated and to a degree worthless.”

“I had to rely on my friends and family for support, and I couldn’t help but worry about the impact this had on them.”

Heath recalls the emotional pain of experiencing survivor’s guilt and feeling deeply depressed about what had happened, particularly when he saw the impact his stroke had on the people closest to him. He worried about how his stroke had affected his friends and family and struggled with the changes it had brought to all their lives.

Finding the Right Support

A range of Leeds-based services worked together to support Heath as he navigated life after his stroke.

Through ongoing support and signposting, Heath was connected to Aphasia Support at a time when he needed it most. Heath remembers being introduced to the team back in 2024, including the charity’s Community Engagement Coordinator, Steve.

“I felt at ease straight away when I first met with Steve.”

After being assessed by Aphasia Support’s Speech and Language Therapist, Heath was referred into a funded programme taking place at Leeds Library.

For Heath, getting to the library was an achievement in itself. A journey that should have taken five to ten minutes from Leeds train station could take up to 30 minutes because of debilitating fatigue. After being housebound for so long, he found the hustle and bustle of the city overwhelming, distressing and a complete sensory overload – the people, the noise and how much everything had changed since he had last been there.

“I’m always extremely apprehensive and anxious before starting something new or going to an appointment, but I know I have to push through and move forward to reach my goals.”

After his third or fourth appointment, Heath began to feel his confidence returning. The goals he had set for himself were simple but hugely important: to make telephone calls independently, write emails and communicate with strangers - whether that was ordering a coffee in a café or asking for directions.

“Steve and the team at Aphasia Support gave me encouragement at a pace which suited my needs. I felt listened to, but more importantly, heard.”

Since then, Heath has received ongoing support from Aphasia Support, tailored around his needs and personal goals. This has included being loaned an iPad to work through bespoke therapy apps, as well as regular telephone check-ins and encouragement from the team. Aphasia Support also introduced Heath to KiActiv, a programme he uses to better understand his activity levels and manage his fatigue. Before his stroke, he could spend up to eight hours gardening, but he has since learned to break this down into more manageable periods of 30 minutes, with rest in between.

Together, this support has helped Heath work towards his goals, build his confidence and gradually reconnect with the activities and routines that are important to him.

As his confidence grew, Heath began to feel ready to take on new challenges outside his home with support. He went on to take part in a project at Leeds Beckett University, working alongside students training to be speech and language therapists. This was particularly rewarding for Heath as could see that by sharing his own experience, he was also helping others.

“It was fantastic. I worked with students training to be speech and language therapists. They helped me, and I feel like I helped them. It was a brilliant experience.”

For Heath, these were important steps towards rebuilding his independence and preparing to return to the workplace. 

Returning to Work

With support from a range of organisations, including Aphasia Support, and through his own determination to keep moving forward, Heath is gradually rebuilding his confidence and communication skills.

“I returned to work a few months after the programme with Aphasia Support.”

Eighteen months after his subarachnoid haemorrhage, Heath began a phased return to work, initially working a small number of hours before gently increasing to part-time work. His employer has adapted his role to support his needs. He uses assistive technology programmes on his computer and has a larger monitor, fully adjustable desk and chair.

Heath credits the support he received from St Mary’s Community Nursing Stroke Team, St Mary’s Community Neurological Rehabilitation Service, Second Chance Wakefield, and Aphasia Support with helping him on his journey back to employment.

“They helped with strategies to manage fatigue, increase my confidence and improve speaking and writing skills.”

“I think I’m most proud to have been involved with all the previously mentioned organisations that supported me to a point where I was able to return to employment.”

His advice to anyone with aphasia thinking about returning to work is simple:

“If you’re in a position to accept help, accept it. It can move you closer to your goal.”

“Take your time, don’t rush the return, be comfortable asking for and accepting as much help as you can from your employer and support organisations you are involved with.”

“A collaborative plan really helped me to integrate back to work with the necessary adjustments and adaptations.” 

Three Years On

For Heath, recovery has meant coming to terms with a new reality. He describes acceptance as one of the hardest, but most important, parts of his rehabilitation.

“The first step to my recovery was acceptance. Without accepting what had happened to me, I couldn’t move forward. I had to grieve the person I was, and the life I had.”

He found encouragement in people taking an interest in his progress. Knowing that others believed in him helped him to keep going, even on the most difficult of days.

“I’ve had so much support from everyone. I feel really lucky.”

Heath’s speech has continued to improve over the past three years, but aphasia is still part of his everyday life.

“With a lot of work, my speech has improved over time. Sometimes it’s really fluent and you wouldn’t know, but sometimes it’s not and you can really tell just how hard I’m finding it.”

Heath remembers one session with Steve when they used the Beautiful Voice app to record him saying a sentence. Hearing the recording back gave him a different perspective - one he found quite shocking.

“Hearing my own voice really brought it home to me. I listened to the pauses and the breaks in my sentences, and it was clear just how much I was struggling.”

Three years on from his stroke, Heath’s speech is very different. While there are still times when aphasia makes communication difficult, he has regained much of the confidence he had lost.

“I’ll never be back to 100% - I might only reach 60% of what I used to, but I keep pushing myself forward. Being there for my son has been a big driver for me.”

Heath is proud of how far he has come. His recovery continues. So far, it has involved setbacks, uncertainty and there are still days it feels difficult to keep going. But he is determined to push himself, supported by the people around him.

“I have faced so many uphill challenges and barriers in my rehabilitation. It’s emotional to look back at everything I’ve been through and see how far I’ve come. My recovery is ongoing, and I take it day by day.”

“I try to make the most of every opportunity I have to be the best version of myself. I do it for me, my son, and for my loved ones.”

Steve, who has supported Heath throughout his journey with Aphasia Support, has seen that change first-hand.

“I first had the pleasure of meeting Heath back in July 2024 when he started his sessions with me in Leeds Library. After 10 sessions, his determination and hard work had helped him reach a point where he felt ready to return to work for a few hours each week.

When I met Heath again this year, I was amazed at how far he had come. He chats away and is working more hours. I have been delighted to see just how far Heath has progressed, it was a real pleasure to play my part in his journey.”

If you or someone you know has been affected by aphasia, please click here to get in touch and find out how we can support you. For further information about stroke services in West Yorkshire and Harrogate, visit www.wyh-allthingsstroke.nhs.uk.