Nicole Le Mière received a Highly Commended Life After Stroke Award from the Stroke Association for challenging herself during her recovery and for being an ambassador for the Jersey branch of the charity.
- Up to 80 per cent of all strokes could be prevented
- There are many factors that can increase your risk of stroke, including your genes, your age, your diet and how fit you are
- The amount of alcohol you drink and whether you smoke are also key factors, as is whether you have any other medical conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes mellitus
- Moderate exercise can reduce risk of stroke by up to 72 per cent
- Smoking doubles your risk of death from stroke
- Being overweight increases your risk of ischaemic stroke by 22 per cent, while being obese increases the risk by 64 per cent
Following her stroke in 2009, Miss Le Mière was left unable to swallow, walk properly or speak clearly.
She said: ‘I woke up in the middle of the night with a severe pain down the right side of my neck and face.
‘As I took a sip of water I realised that I had lost the ability to swallow.
‘By this time my speech had begun to slur and I had lost all feeling down the left side of my body.
‘I couldn’t believe what was happening to me.’
Over time Miss Le Mière’s speech and ability to swallow returned, and she is able to walk again.
‘However, because of nerve damage, she lives with a constant pain and no feeling down the lower left side of her back and down her left leg.
Tracy O’Regan, fundraising and operations manager for the Jersey branch of the Stroke Association, said: ‘Not only has Nicole challenged herself over the past couple of years with her recovery, but she has been an amazing ambassador for the Stroke Association in Jersey and for young stroke survivors across the UK.
- Stroke Association
- Driving for the Disabled: Call senior occupational therapist Amanda Johnson on 444803 or lead driving instructor Kerrie Dorrington on 865866.
- Jubilee Sailing Trust: Call 02380 426849.
Nicole cycled from London to Paris in 2012 and recently took part in the Standard Chartered Jersey Marathon raising vital funds for the Stroke Association.’
Miss Le Mière received her award on Tuesday from Stroke Association trustee Dr Peter Rawlinson.
IT IS vital that steps are taken immediately when a stroke occurs to minimise long-term damage.
The FAST Test identifies the three most common symptoms of a stroke or mini-stroke and the right action to take:
- FACE: Can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?
- ARM weakness: Can the person raise both arms?
- SPEECH problems: Can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?
- TIME to call 999.
