A PRENTON woman who suffered a stroke earlier this year is celebrating getting her life back.

Carol Hodgson, 69 was paralysed down one side after she had a mini-stoke in her garden in March.

She said: “My knees went funny. I managed to walk across the garden and hold myself up by the compost bins but my knees gave way and I crumpled.

“I was on my own. I managed to call for help and neighbours heard me.”

“Someone in my family had suffered a stroke and I had an inkling of what it was. The neighbours came across to help me and called an ambulance.”

She was admitted to Arrowe Park’s Stroke Unit, two days later she was transferred to the Trust’s Stroke Rehabilitation Centre at Clatterbridge Hospital where she spent three weeks having intensive therapy to aid recovery.

Only two months on from the incident, Carol is now getting back to gardening and her life.

Carol added: “I couldn’t walk before I went to Clatterbridge. It does cross your mind whether you’ll be able to do certain things again.

“At that moment everyone is helping you. It was a team effort and I left myself in their hands.

“All the staff were wonderful. The physios, nurses and everybody all played their part. I had my part to play in my rehabilitation.

“You have got to persevere. You’ve got to break it down and start from scratch. It’s like being a baby and learning to walk again.”

Carol attended a recent awareness day, held at Arrowe Park hospital as part of Make May Purple, which is a campaign by the Stroke Association.

She added: “I’m back out doing the gardening. I’m walking and I’m sewing, which is also one of my hobbies. I never thought I’d sew again. I’d say I’m about 95% back to normal.”

Each year Arrowe Park Hospital admits around 700 people with a stroke.

When someone has a stroke caused by bleeding into the brain permanent brain damage can occur and result in long term disability.

At present there in no available treatment that is effective.

Wirral stroke patients now have access to a well-developed, hyper acute stroke service at Arrowe Park Hospital, a Stroke Rehabilitation Unit at Clatterbridge Hospital and a specialist Early Supported Discharge service.

Dr Ruth Davies, clinical service lead stroke, said: “It was really nice to welcome Carol back into the hospital to share her positive experience with patients and visitors.

“We are delighted to see the recovery Carol has made. This has been a combination of an intensive rehabilitation programme along with Carol’s own hard work and perseverance.

“Throughout May we have been raising awareness among the visitors, patients and staff around how to detect and prevent this condition.

“We have also been highlighting that not only can this be prevented, but stroke survivors can fully recover and regain their quality of life with long-term care and support.”