Client: Andrew
Stroke Date: August 7, 2024
Location: County Durham and Newcastle
Therapist: Taher, Clinical Director at NeuroAbility

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A Life-Altering Event

In August 2024, Andrew experienced a massive stroke. Looking back, he recalls subtle symptoms about a week prior that were easy to dismiss: putting on a shirt backwards, not being able to distinguish which hand he was using while gardening, and feeling extremely tired. "I put it down to stress," he says.

 

While visiting his partner in Leicestershire, he believes the first, more minor stroke may have occurred. Upon returning to Durham, his condition worsened, prompting a visit to his GP. He was rushed to University Hospital Durham with dangerously high blood pressure and discharged the next day with medication.

But the most critical event happened shortly after. “As I got out of the car on my driveway, I collapsed. This is when the massive stroke happened.” He recalls very little from the next five days until he was transferred to Bishop Auckland Stroke Rehab Hospital, where he stayed for six weeks, before moving to Walkergate Neurological Rehab Hospital for a further six weeks until December 12, 2024.

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Words of Wisdom for Fellow Survivors

Despite the trauma and difficulty of recovery, Andrew has words of strength and encouragement:

• "It’s a long and hard journey, but you can help your own recovery with practice and determination."

• "Repeat things 1,000 times if needed — speaking, reading, walking — whatever it takes."

• "Think outside the box. If one thing doesn’t work, try something else and return to the roadblock later."

• "Use your pre-stroke skills and experiences to guide your recovery."

• "Set your own goals at your own pace."

• "Find peer support — connecting with others who’ve walked a similar path makes a huge difference."

 

The Impact of NeuroAbility and Taher’s Therapy

During his stay at Walkergate, Andrew was signed off physiotherapy because he was able to walk. But that didn’t address the cognitive and neurological rehabilitation challenges he continued to face — including aphasia, dyscalculia, and sight impairments.

"Finding Taher through a 15-minute conversation with Cat at Different Strokes was perhaps the very best advice I could have been given."

He describes Taher as a game-changer:

"Taher has truly been my catalyst to unlock my potential and has pushed me on to the next steps in my stroke recovery."

Weekly sessions with Taher are carefully tailored, integrating both physical and cognitive tasks. "Every week he has a new challenge for me and drives me towards my true potential," he explains. "I would totally recommend him."

Moving Forward

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This case is a powerful reminder that stroke recovery is about much more than walking again. With the right support, encouragement, and personalised care, stroke survivors can find their way back to confidence, strength, and independence — mentally and physically.

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NeuroAbility is proud to be part of this journey.

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For further help: Different Strokes and The Stroke Association