Major milestone for Louise

Louise and her family are members of our WAGS (Working Age) stroke support group on the NSW Central Coast, she is an amazing and determined woman, this is Louise's story and achievements written by her sister Jenn.

When Louise crossed that finish line it was to a rousing cheer!

It is with Louise's permission that I am very honoured and proud to be able to share her story and pictures with you.

Brenda

WAGS Co President

On September 6^th, 2015, Louise Grant accomplished something that seemed impossible 18 months ago.  She completed a 5km beach walk to help raise funds for one of the many organisations that helped save her life.

18 months earlier, Louise Grant was 34 years old, happily married to Jeff and a mother of 2 beautiful girls: Tahra – 2 years old and Lily - 6 weeks old.  It was on Tahra’s 2^nd birthday, April 15, 2014, that Louise was found collapsed in her home on the NSW Central Coast.  She was rushed to Gosford hospital, then airlifted by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter to Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital.  Louise had a ruptured “Giant” aneurysm (over 2.5cm) and the chances of survival were slim.  She was rushed into emergency brain surgery to repair the aneurysm.  She survived surgery but 12 hours later the swelling on the brain was still worsening and she was rushed back into surgery again, this time to remove part of her skull, to help relieve the pressure. 

Louise remained in an induced coma for 10 days.  She was in ICU for almost a month.  She then spent an additional 5 months in a rehab hospital on the Central Coast.  Her skull was repaired with an acrylic plate 4 ½ months after her stroke.  Louise was discharged from hospital after almost 6 months and at that stage was still unable to walk unaided.  She was determined to walk again.  She worked very hard with physios and within weeks of being released from hospital, Louise took the first steps on her own.

As with most Stroke survivors, Louise struggles with fitness and endurance, but when the Westpac Rescue Helicopter announced a 5km beach walk fundraiser, Louise saw it as a perfect opportunity, to work hard and to give back at the same time.

Louise completed the 5km run/walk all on sand.  It was almost 12 months to the day that Louise had been released from the rehab hospital.  Louise said it was the 2^nd toughest thing she has ever done in her life, re-learning to walk again was the toughest!