Strokes: a look at the bigger picture

EVERY five minutes, someone in the UK suffers a stroke.

In Oldham, more than 4,000 people are living with its effects.

It is the nation’s third biggest killer and the leading cause of disability,

Thursday is World Stroke Day, and the Stroke Association has launched a six month campaign highlighting the condition.

Oldham man Dennis Blackhurst and his wife Barbara’s lives were devastated when he had a stroke. They told their story to reporter Marina Berry.

DENNIS Blackhurst was only 57 when he had a stroke, two years ago.

His wife, Barbara, took him straight to the Royal Oldham hospital when he called her from work to say his right arm had gone weak.

Doctors initially thought he had a nerve problem, but as he waited for an appointment with an orthopaedic consultant, he collapsed with a stroke.

Dennis spent 12 weeks in hospital, and Barbara faced a horrendous time as she waited to find out if he would survive.

Her husband clung to life, and when he was finally allowed home, the couple, of Consort Avenue, Royton, were faced with trying to rebuild their lives.

Dennis had severe physical and communication problems, and going back to work as a welder was out of the question.

Barbara was hit by the reality of becoming a carer for a husband who had always been strong and capable, and she found the prospect of coping with the future a daunting prospect.

Normal day-to-day tasks proved a tiresome effort, and Barbara explained: “Dennis was always very helpful around the house. He would always do his bit with the ironing, or cooking, and was a real DIY enthusiast. He built two extensions to our home over the years.”

Dennis was offered a place with The Stroke Association’s communication support service, where he worked with trained volunteers to learn to use alternative methods of communication.

He was encouraged to use writing, gestures and drawing, and his determination to communicate helped him “rediscover his voice” through painting.

Dennis still has extreme difficulty in finding the right words to express himself, and uses a wheelchair to get around, but putting brush to canvas has helped him discover a whole new world.

Inspiration

He initially started painting as a way to fill his days, but soon discovered a new joy, even though he had to use his left hand, because he had lost use in his previously dominant right hand.

He finds the inspiration for his paintings mainly from thoughts and images he sees in his head. And many of his landscape scenes feature images of boats: “My ambition is to build a boat myself and sail it around the world,” he said. Dennis enjoys painting images which make people think about life, and some border on the controversial.

One of his latest features a nude woman sitting alone in a stark room with a wedding dress in one corner, her normal clothing in another, and a noose hanging over a window — his message being the internal conflict of a young woman over which direction to take with her life.

Dennis has become a prolific artist, and has produced dozens of amazing paintings, but it is the once simple tasks that he insists on still performing that make him extraordinary.

He has had to hand over some jobs to Barbara, such as mowing the lawn, but he made a heroic effort to build a brick wall outside their home so he could sit and keep her company while she does the gardening.

“He was absolutely determined to do this thing, so I didn’t stand in his way. He worked so hard to build this little perch for himself,” Barbara said.

Dennis made the effort to embrace the life he has since his stroke. He has completed a computing course, plays bowls, and is now a dab hand at spaghetti bolognese and stir fry after going on a men’s cookery course.

“He surprised me one day when I came home from work by making tea for me with the help of the carer who visits while I am at work” said a proud Barbara.

Julie Ainscow, from The Stroke Association said: “The courage and creativity that Dennis has shown after his stroke is commendable.

She said the couple, who have one son and two grandchildren, were shining examples of how there really can be life after stroke.

The communication support service helps stroke survivors build confidence and independence and provides social interaction so they can make the best possible recovery.

And co-ordinator, Barbara Schofield, helps people develop existing interests and hobbies, and discover new skills.

For more information about stroke or The Stroke Association, contact the Stroke Helpline (weekdays 9am-5pm) on 0845 303 3100 or visit www.stroke.org.uk