The Stroke Association is thrilled to be partnering with SameYou. Launched in March 2019 by Game of Thrones actor Emilia Clarke, SameYou aims to transform recovery care for young adults following hospital treatment for brain injury and stroke.
The Stroke Association and SameYou are joining forces to invest in research to transform stroke rehabilitation services, and to tackle the stigma of stroke by raising awareness of this devastating condition among young adults.
I know from personal experience that the impact of brain injury is shattering, recovery is long-term, and rehabilitation difficult to access. Repercussions are not always visible, and the problem is seldom talked about. We need to help young adults take control of their recovery and allow them to open up without fearing stigma or shame. I am determined to help. I have founded 'SameYou' to help take action and raise funds for a revolution in rehabilitation provision for young adults.
Emilia Clarke
The Stroke Association's work with young stroke survivors
People are having strokes earlier in their lives. In 1990 only a quarter of all strokes occurred in people aged 20-64. In 2010, a third of all strokes happened to people aged 20-64. And we know that people who have a stroke at working age are two to three times more likely to be unemployed eight years after their stroke.
Annabel was just 22 when she had her stroke.
"I was 22 years old. I'd got my degree, got a job in the bank and was feeling really confident and happy in life. I felt like I had everything going for me. Then the stroke happened - just like that - and smashed it all to pieces."
Annabel's recovery was long and difficult. She'd gone from having perfect 20/20 vision to having just over half of it left.
"I wasn't feeling happy in myself and just didn't want to get up and out of bed in the morning."
But thanks to the support she received from the Stroke Association, Annabel was able to get her life back together and return to work.
With more donations and support from you, we can rebuild even more lives.
Laura's story
26-year-old Laura had a stroke when her daughter Evie was only 10 weeks old. At what should have been a happy time of her life, celebrating the birth of her baby girl, her life was turned upside down.
"My son, Leo (then three) asked me what was wrong but I couldn't tell him. Luckily, he realised I wasn't well and ran to the front door to shout for help."
"I didn't think I could be having a stroke - especially as I was so young."
Laura received support from her local Stroke Association recovery coordinator within a week of leaving hospital, but she would like to see more support for young stroke survivors.
"If I could change anything about my stroke recovery it would be that aftercare for young stroke survivors would be more available. I only received very limited amount of aftercare due to lack of funds and I feel that stroke rehab is tailored for older stroke patients, not young people who have full lives ahead of them in which they have to learn to adapt their life with a brain injury and physical disabilities."
"I don't want anyone who has had a stroke at my age to feel alone."