A healthy and active mum who suffered a massive stroke is sharing her story as a warning to others. Kerry Tate, 44, from Pontefract in West Yorkshire had suffered headaches over many years. She thought it was just another headache when she first fell ill on a Saturday evening in May 2021. However, over the days that followed, the pain seemed to get worse.
When she woke up on Wednesday morning, she was shocked to realise she was unable to speak. The mum-of-two had to use a pen and paper to communicate with her family and was rushed to hospital where a CT scan confirmed she had suffered a bleed on the brain.
As reported by YorkshireLive, the shocked family discovered that Kerry had been born with an 'arterial malformation' (AVM). It was this that led to her having a stroke. Kerry said she was clueless about her underlying condition when she first fell ill in May 2021. What followed was a "daunting" journey, which is far from over.
As well as beginning speech therapy, she had to prepare for gamma knife surgery, which she had last month. Kerry wished to praise her "amazing speech therapists" who have helped her improve her speech as much as possible.
Doctors have hailed the surgery a success. However, Kerry will need a check-up in four years' time to see if the AVM has been totally eradicated.
But Kerry, who also praised the empathy of staff at Sheffield's Royal Hallamshire Hospital, where the surgery was performed, says she is confident she received the best care possible. For now, she is focusing on her recovery at home, supported by her family, including her children Harrison, 18 and Edward, 16.
Kerry, who works as Head of Marketing at Capita, is also looking forward to returning to work soon alongside her colleagues, who have supported her throughout. She hopes that by sharing her experience she can help make people aware "a stroke can happen to anyone."
