Alice marks stroke milestone

Alice Johnson was 29 years old at the time of her stroke. A registered nurse and busy mum of a 5-day-old baby and a 3-year-old toddler, Alice says she remembers feeling confused and tired.

“Even with my history in emergency nursing, I didn’t realise I was having a stroke. It was my brother who was a police officer that recognised the F.A.S.T. signs,” Alice said.

“I had a great experience in hospital. Luckily, because I was breastfeeding, they did not separate me from my baby. The neurology ward was very accommodating, and the care I received was excellent,” Alice said.

Alice was told by health professionals that she may not be able to exercise competitively post-stroke.

“I signed up for an online running program and fell in love with it. Then I signed up for my first 10 kilometre run with a bunch of local ladies, then I signed up for a half marathon,” she said.

“I do a lot of thinking on my long runs, and I had an idea swirling in the back of my brain to sign up for a 100-kilometre event. So, to celebrate turning 40 last year, and to mark a decade post-stroke, I signed up for the Mount Buffalo Stampede.”

We're sending Alice big hugs, for her epic run in late March. What an amazing milestone to achieve ten years after stroke.