Will Davison

So You've Had A Stroke Will Davison

'So You've Had a Stroke: a survivors' guide to life after Stroke', documents the lives of stroke survivors in the UK. Eleven people, including author Will Davison talk intimately about their stroke experience and recovery from this life threatening condition. Stroke affects 17 million people around the world. There are currently 1.2million stroke survivors in the UK. One in five women - and one in six men - will have had a stroke by the age of seventy-five; that's one every three minutes in England! Do people know that? With one or two notable celebrity exceptions, very little is known of the stroke journey. How are ordinary stroke survivors' lives affected? How do they cope? Will Davison, a two-time stroke survivor himself, decided to find out. His journey took him around England interviewing people of all ages, from the incredibly young age of twenty-two to late eighties. He wanted to know if and how they had come to terms with their condition. Their stories make powerful reading in a book telling of fortitude, huge physical endeavor, and endurance to overcome the odds. Stroke experience isn't one-dimensional. The outcome, especially paralysis, is very variable - yet almost every survivor has fatigue beyond understanding. Even a small amount of brain damage affects memory and thus confidence. Some lose speech - a devastating result that puts survivors outside mainstream society, which thrives on instant repartee and communication. Many feel locked out by their stroke situation, physically less strong and unable to continue with their old lives. But the good news? The latest up-to-date research on brain plasticity suggests that seemingly static conditions are slowly, almost imperceptibly, re-routed by the brain to bring subtle improvements. There is hope, and stroke survivors need not be gloomy about their future. In 'So You've Had a Stroke' the featured stroke survivors make it clear that their new situation heralds a 'rebirth' into a new life. A very different life, yes, but one they could never have had without the stroke experience.