Health: Drop in Cafe opens to offer support to a group of patients whose lives changed so suddenly

Coventry Telegraph

A new drop-in cafe for stroke survivors has been set up in Coventry city centre.

The cafe, at Warwick Road United Reformed Church, Warwick Row, has been set up so stroke survivors can chat and share their experiences over tea, coffee and sandwiches every Friday between noon and 2pm.

Founder members include Irene Shannon, whose son Robert suffered a stroke 11 years ago aged 31, Joanne Palmer, aged 37, who had a stroke when she was 32, and another stroke survivor, Norman Phillips.

Irene said: "I Started Different Strokes for younger stroke survivors after my son had a stroke but wanted to open it up to everyone and anyone as a drop-in cafe.  We wanted somewhere for stroke survivors to talk. 

No-one thinks its going to happen to them-it could happen to a person in work or in the street

"In March we held a Stoke Awareness Day Coventry with specialists from the hospital.  We make more and more people aware of strokes in all forms.

Working together to help survivors of stroke

"We work with the Stroke Association, Speakability, Headway and Coventry's University Hospital where there is a Stroke Focus Group.  We all work together.

"We can signpost people into the right direction. We have a fantastic team at the hospital including Sue Thelwell, the Stroke Services Coordinator at University Hospital who attends our drop-in cafe every week."  She said ideally she would like to set up a rehabilitation centre at a hotel or spa in the city where survivors could go for treatments, therapies or swimming.

"It is the simple things in life which make such a difference.  If there are any millionaires who would like to help us or maybe a pub-hotel who would like to adopt us we would be most grateful," Irene added.

For more information about the drop-in cafe visit:  www.strokesincoventry.org.uk or email:  strokesincoventry@googlemail.com

Joanne's Story

Five years ago Joanne Palmer was aiming to quit her job as a warehouse supervisor and work in an office.  On January 21st, 2003 she had a job interview-but that morning she did not wake up.

Her mum Joan called and called her and became increasingly worried when Joanne who had recently been diagnosed as asthmatic, did not answer.

When she walked into her daughter's bedroom, Joanne was not moving.  Joan phoned for an ambulance and Joanne was rushed into A&E at Walsgrave Hospital, Coventry.  She had suffered a massive stroke-at the age of 32.  The left side of her body was completely paralysed.

She was unconscious for nearly two weeks and suffered a relapse when a clot was found on the right side of her brain.

Joan, of Wyken, Coventry, who is now 72 said: "Joanne did actually die they had to resuscitate her.  We had a priest.  It was a bad time.  At the same time my mum who was 93 was taken ill, then later died."  Joanne was one of the first patients at Coventry's University Hospital to be given the clot-busting (thrombolysis) drug.

Research has proven that this rapid treatmentt increases patients' chances of survival and limits permanent disability.  Joanne has now made a good recovery and lives in Vicroft Court, a housing association complex, in Coventry city centre.

The 37 year old who has a twin sister, Cheryl, brothers Phillip 46, and Les 50, and older sister Gillian, 47, said: "I have learned to cope, stay positive and not give up."  But for Joanne her biggest hurdle is communication.  She finds speaking very fustrating. "I know what I want to say but cannot get the words out."

Joanne helped to set up the new Stroke Survivors drop-in cafe, in Coventry.

Speakability

Another stroke self-help group in the city is Speakability, which has 28 members.  It meets at Warwick Road United Reformed Church in Warwick Row, every other Monday between 10.30am and 12.30pm.  It is aimed at people with APHASIA (Speech an Language problems after stroke or Head Injury) and their carers.

Mary Hadden, 68, of Mount Nod, Coventry, helped to set up the group with friend Pamela Taplin, after her husband Arthur, aged 72, had a stroke four years ago.  She said: "Arthur's stroke occurred after a brain operation.  It was devastating.  We meet once a fortnight to discuss our problems and arrange to go on day trips and meals.

"I feel there needs to be more therapy for stroke survivors long term whether it's speech or physiotherapy.  There is a desperate need."  New members include Rachel and Terry Harvey from Tile Hill, Coventry.

Terry Harvey

Terry, 63, a retired development engineer at Jaguar had a stroke last October.  He said: It didn't affect my arms, or speech but an optic nerve in my eye so I lost my sight for a week.  It was terrifying time.  i now wear glasses.

"Last year I was still running marathons.  I am not sure if I will ever run again."  His wife Rachel, 61, said: "Speakability has made all the difference."

For more information about Speakability call Pamela Taplin on 024 7662 1376.

Sue Thelwell

SUE THELWELL is stroke services coordinator at Coventry's University Hospital.

She regularly attends the Stroke Survivors group to offer professional advice for patients and carers.  She said the drop-in cafe was an opportunity for stroke survivors to meet others who have had strokes, share problems and know they are not alone.

"It is an opportunity fo chat, support and advice.  I tend to attend in case people need professional advice from being referred to social services to physiotherapy.  Eighty-five per cent of strokes are due to a blood clot, while 15 per cent are due to a bleed in the brain.  But every person's stroke and affect them differently.

"We have 700 to 1,000 strokes a year in Coventry.  "I work closely with all members of the stroke team. My role is very varied.  We continually try to make improvements for stroke patients including those discharged back into the community."  There was a community rehabilitation team for patients with neurological conditions, including strokes.

"When patients go home myself or a stroke specialist nurse will visit for six weeks to see if they need further rehab, check medicals, their diet and blood pressure and refer them to this type of support group.

"We are finding a lot of younger people are now having strokes, even in their late 20's which you rarely saw 30 years ago."

Pictures are from left to right:  Mary Hadden, Arthur Hadden, Joan Palmer, Sue Thelwell, Rachel Harvey, Terry Harvey, Joanne Palmer and Irene Shannon.