"I was in hospital for three months but when I came out, although I had survived, psychologically I was devastated. I couldn’t talk and inside I wanted to talk – but all that would come out was gobbledegook. So much stress and anxiety came from that. I had epilepsy as a result of the stroke and because of the impulses my body started to move without my asking it to – but when I wanted to move it wouldn’t. I was morally low. I was frustrated because of the walking. It was a difficult time.

 

"Then I started to do things again. My mum persuaded me to go swimming. My sister took me to the gym and any tiny movement which I managed to do that I hadn’t done before was such a massive achievement. And I went to a physio clinic in Nottingham which really helped.

 

"Two years ago I started coming to Conductive Education after my Mum saw an article in the Evening Mail. When I first started coming I didn’t like it – all that counting! Then one day it just clicked. It was wonderful and ever since I have really enjoyed it. In just ten weeks my speech was better and my walking had improved visibly. Mentally it was exhausting – it still is – but the motivation from the conductors and encouragement from the other participants makes it fun – when it comes to the holidays my body really misses it.

 

"You can do one of two things when something like this happens. You can sit in a corner or you can get up and get on with your life. I chose the latter. I did a gym instructors course and I went back to college to study sports science. My ultimate aim would be to open a gym for disabled people in Birmingham. It’s not been easy to get back on my feet, to go to college and so on. It’s been a battle, but CE has really boosted my confidence and that’s why I would wholeheartedly recommend it. It activates your brain, it’s stimulating, it’s movement and I think movement is key. Eventually your body will respond.

 

"I was forty this year. My friends and I were saying thank god I was celebrating. My movement still holds me back – I still don’t recognise myself in the mirror, the conductors are helping me with that – but you do just have to get on with it."