Eighteen hours after the birth of her daughter, Dianne Speed experienced a huge stroke. It took away her ability to talk, walk, use her right arm, and most heartbreakingly, care for her newborn baby.
“I was able to breastfeed my daughter, but that was the only real contact I could have with her until I could look after her safely, it was absolutely devastating,” Dianne said.
“Being a new mother after stroke was hard. Not only was I trying to recover, I was also trying to care for a baby. I had to find ways to dress her, change her nappy and bathe her. It was a lot of trial and error.
“My family were supportive, and my mother was amazing, but it was challenging for all of us. It was not the life I had imagined for myself.”
It’s been 35 years since Dianne’s stroke. She says a lack of resources back in 1988 contributed to her slow recovery.
“There was no understanding of young stroke back then, the treatment was very different and there was no stroke community like there is today.”
While Dianne’s stroke robbed her of some key moments of motherhood, it also offered a unique perspective, as she was able to mark major milestones alongside her daughter.
“My daughter and I learned how to walk and talk at the same time, she was around nine months old when she took her first steps,” she said.
“At speech therapy she would sometimes try to copy the exercises and sounds I was making. I believe being exposed to those therapies had some impact on her development, she speaks very well now.
“The biggest win for me is that I raised a beautiful, strong daughter through such adversity. I am so proud of the young lady she has become.”
Stroke is one of Australia’s biggest killers and a leading cause of disability, but more than 80% of strokes can be prevented. The advice from the Stroke Foundation is to learn the F.A.S.T acronym.
Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer Dr Lisa Murphy said it’s a common misconception that strokes only happen to the elderly.
“Stroke does not discriminate. It can happen to anyone, at any time. In fact, 24 per cent of strokes are experienced by working aged Australians” Dr Murphy said.
“Stroke touches too many Geelong families, we know an Australian has a stroke every 19 minutes. But they can be prevented and treated if you seek medical help quickly.
“Call triple zero (000) at the first sign of stroke. This vital action is the first step in helping someone get the time-critical medical help they need, and it gives them the best chance of a good outcome.”
