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e - The Caniadien Champion, Tuaaday, Januatry 9, 2001 pJusfl nwlnhqp.cm o "t7ane v. m u 'Il Local stroke victims start support group By CARRIE BRUNET The Champion There is ife after a stroke. Just ask survivor Judi Hanson. Ms Hanson, who's starting up a support group for stroke patients discbarged from hospital, was in a coma for a week follow- rng her stroke. "I was ai the prime of my life," said the moiher of two aduit cbildren. "And one moming, it was ai gone." Whai started out as migraine pain tumed out t0 be a brain hemorrhage for Ms Hanson on a rainy November day in 1998. Ms Hanson's family took her to the Milton aile of Halton Healthcaee Services, then she was transferred 10 the Oakville site. 1I wasn't supposed te, make it, but 1 did," ahe said. Doctors didn't expect her to pull through. Evert ber family bad made the decision 10, donate her organa. However, they weren't ready to give in just yet. Tbey insisted on keeping Ms Hanson hooked up 10 the arlificial ventilator for a while longer. -Tbey made the rigbi decision," Ms Hanson said two years later. When Ms Hanson was discharged from the bospital, she was in a wbeelchair. Today, she gels around wiih only the assis- tance of a cane. In ladt becaUse she can no longer drive, she walks 10 ai ber destinations, including ber volUnteer work. Noneiheless, stirviving the atroke waa only the beginning of an upward batlle. Ms Hanson and ber husband gave up their home, in favoUr of an apartment tWbere everytbing ia on one floor. She can no longer work as an office manager, a position thai earned ber a fair salary. Doctors attribuied ber stroke largely 10, stress. -1 used Io go through life (îhinking) 'Work bard and play bard,"' she said. "I don't forge abead so mUcb anymore. 1 take my limie." Ms Hanson bas bad no choice but 10 slow ibinga down aller ber stroke. '(Having a stroke) takes away your inde- pendence and your ability 10, eamn money," she said. 18 losI everyibing so qtickly." Because of the drasiic lifestyle change, Ms Hanson said ii's easy to gel depressed, sometbing she's noticed among iellow stroke patients. "Wben you come ouI of the bospital, you îbink you're the only one,' Ms Hanson said. She feli il was important 10 start the 'Milton Strokers' in order 10 reduce isola- tion and provide peer support 10 people once tbey are discbarged from bospital. "'l'ere are currently no services in the Milton communiiy that are geared 10 sîroke (patients)," said Sian Evans, occu- pational therapist witb Halton Heaibhcare Services' Milton site. Ms Evans is assisîing Ms Hanson in gel- ting the support group together. "Community reintegration and the sup- port thai ibis group bas the potential 10 provide could prove io be invaluable," Ms. Evans said. According Io Ms. Evans, Milton Strokers will bridge a gap in post-stroke care allowing for a smootb transition from tberapy 10 independent living. Ms Hanson said she bas bad interest from about 20 fellow stroke patients already, and the group only officially kicked off yesterday. The first meeting, wbicb îook place aI the Allendale long-term-care facility, was an introductory session wbere members met fellow stroke patients and sbared sto- ries. Eveniually, Ms Hanson bopes 10 bave speakers from the medical field speak aI the meetings 10 provide information on managing post-stroke bealtb. Furtbermore, sbe'd like to see the group go ouI on excursions, sucb as trips to die local swim- ming pool. "Apart from being a support group, il will be educational," she said. However, she's keeping the meeting for- mat open 10 changea. "I want everypne to0 benefit from Ibis," she said. "I want 10 gear il eacb individual member." A donation fromt the Milton Optimist Club bas made ii possible for the group 10 star( up wiibout membersbip costs, and Allendale is providing a meeting space free of charge. The group will meet for about an bour every füraI Monday of the montb. Additionally, Ms Hanson wants the gmoup to raise awaeeness about strokes and the importance of preventing thera. "Everyone is afraid of strokes," she said. "And they sbould be." Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Stroke survivor Judi Hanson was In a wheelchair fallowlng her strake two ysars ago. Encouraged by ber success In ber physical therapy, Ms Hanson la meachlng out ta other stroke patients as she atarta a support group for aurvivoirs - the Milton Strokers. )))CQCPECQ - a e vwww..cogeco.ca NORTH HALTON STUDIO COGEC 14 rogrammiiig Schedule - january 9th, 2000 - January l5th, 2001 lm lem lim mm md lm! IL mmn. 1 110 W ~ W^ lim k. b!£m a *hI u. mm r W. - EMut iýiuh. rqwbu NOm k. ;mli mm bdA *vwdA uE m 00"~~~~~~~u TVêBî 2 011 em MWatw 1111e11111cgrnnlg eum itsWek