A 34-year-old previously fit and healthy woman who suffered a stroke ten months ago says weeks swimming in fresh water in the hills around Matlock have helped her recovery.
Melissa Clayton is looking to raise awareness of young stroke survivors, to coincide with World Stroke Day.
Melissa had no underlying health problems, had just finished work at the PR agency where she works in January when she suffered a seizure and ischaemic stroke, or blood clot at the back of the brain – for no other reason than, as she describes it, ‘bad luck’.
And as she continues her recovery, having first been fed through a tube for four months, she says she wants to give advice to other young stroke survivors on staying positive – as she believes her attitude has helped her rehabilitation.
Melissa said: ‘The stroke came out of nowhere and affected everything: my walk, balance, speech, right side of my body and swallow.
‘I wasn’t able to eat for four months, I still can’t drink fluids and am still learning to speak properly.
‘Since going to the Regional Neurological Rehabilitation Unit at Homerton University Hospital in Hackney, east London, in April, I’ve gone from wheelchair to walking and I’m now eating soft foods.
‘My time at rehab ended on July 11 and this World Stroke Day, or any day, I want to help raise awareness of young stroke survivors and give some advice on staying positive.’
As part of her recovery journey, Melissa told North Derbyshire Radio that she spent weeks swimming in cold, fresh water from the hills around Matlock and Buxton, which helped her improve her movement:
