"The most important thing I need to do at this point is rest. It's very hard to do with two small children in the house."
- Carly, Young Survivor of Stroke
Parenting after stroke can be really difficult. As a young survivor of stroke, you're trying to recover from a serious health incident. But if you're also a parent, your responsibilities for them do not stop. Young survivors of stroke talk about the challenges they faced with parenting after stroke and the effect on their family.
Guest: Kim Beesley
This episode explores being a parent of a young survivor of stroke. It can be a huge learning curve, knowing what to say and do, how to be there for your child and how to look after yourself at the same time.
Matt's young son is going through a phase where he loves to be carried everywhere. Matt says "He's just tipped over to the point where he is a little bit beyond what's comfortable for me to lift ... I can lift him, but I can't carry him for anywhere near as long as I used to. Particularly if there is something else that needs to be managed. So we have to negotiate a far bit. Which can be quite tricky with a toddler."
Matt's older daughter is more aware that her dad is not like he used to be. Matt explains "There was an abrupt change. She was in daycare the day of my stroke. So she was dropped off and everything was more or less normal. And then dad just disappeared for 10 days.". Matt says his daughter generally handles it all well, but "you can still see signs of a bit of trauma that I was a away for an extended period. But for the most part she has adapted quite well to our new reality."
Matt's older daughter is more aware that her dad is not like he used to be. Matt explains "There was an abrupt change. She was in daycare the day of my stroke. So she was dropped off and everything was more or less normal. And then dad just disappeared for 10 days.". Matt says his daughter generally handles it all well, but "you can still see signs of a bit of trauma that I was a away for an extended period. But for the most part she has adapted quite well to our new reality."
In September 2020, three years after my stroke, my son Arthur was born.
My wife, Kerrie and I had always wanted to start a family and, for a while after my stroke, we questioned if we ever would.
So, when Kerrie fell pregnant with Arthur, I was very concerned about not being an able-bodied father. I was worried that my deficits would have an impact on Arthur's life. Would he be teased at school? Would he ask, why is my dad not like other dads? It still worries me somewhat, but we’re getting on with life as a family.
So, when Kerrie fell pregnant with Arthur, I was very concerned about not being an able-bodied father. I was worried that my deficits would have an impact on Arthur's life. Would he be teased at school? Would he ask, why is my dad not like other dads? It still worries me somewhat, but we’re getting on with life as a family.
I had a stroke in 2012, I was a young and relatively fit woman, it was sudden and unexpected.
I didn’t suspect that I was having a stroke, I thought it was a severe migraine. Unfortunately, it wasn’t.
I had three older children and I found out I was pregnant two months after my stroke. I was told that I may not be able to go through with the pregnancy as it was deemed too high risk. My cardiologist, neurologist and endocrinologist discussed my pregnancy, and I was cleared to go ahead at 12 weeks, but as a high-risk pregnancy. I would need regular checkups and I would deliver my baby via a c-section.