Stroke Saved My Life

I know what you’re thinking - how can someone that went through three brain bleeds, lost his memory, lost the ability to walk, drive, type an email, and not work for more than three years say such a thing!

Well before I explain, please let me introduce you to the person that I used to be.

I had a property maintenance business that kept me busy six days a week twelve plus hours a day. I didn’t sleep enough, was highly stressed, I never had a check-up with my GP, I sometimes smoked and drank excessively, and I ate junk food way too often.

But I went to the gym, exercised, had a physical job - that balanced out all the negative stuff right? Wrong!

Without going into every detail of my life before February 2012, the things I was neglecting, and having make the error of taking my health for granted, created the perfect storm and led to three bleeds in my brain over three years. Crazy right? Three haemorrhagic strokes – sometimes I still can’t fathom it.

As scary as my strokes were, they gave me the wakeup call I needed, and led me to make some serious changes in my life. They forced me to face and avoid behaviours that had nearly killed me or could left me seriously seriously unwell - permanently.

Because of my ‘bleeds’ I stopped smoking, drinking, working too much, eating junk food and drinking soft drinks. Now as I continue to work on recovering my health I feel better than ever, although I still have left side numbness.

I know that others are not as fortunate as I, and may not feel the same way about their stroke/s - I feel like have I dodged three bullets. I plan to never take my health for granted again. I’m passionate about raising awareness of the challenges we face after stroke, and be a voice calling for better care and support for carers and patients/survivors alike.

I feel like I’m finally setting a good example for my two beautiful kids, my amazing wife, and my family and friends, I hope I can inspire you to do the same.

Bill Gasiamis - Health Coach www.billgasiamis.com