A former Scots Royal Marine has told his harrowing story of how a stroke on a bike ride at the start of lockdown led to the 'darkest times of his life' when he lost control of his hand on the cycle.
Troy Johnson noticed something was wrong when he could not control his right hand while out on a cycle around East Lothian on May 14 last year.
The 52-year-old cyber security specialist, from Longniddry and who lives with wife Pippa, said he was unable to wave down a passing paramedic as he could not lift his hand.
Troy, who served for six years, is urging others to be aware of the signs and has told how he is getting back on his feet.
"Nothing had really happened before the stroke to make me realise I was on the pathway to a stroke.
"Six weeks into the lockdown, the way of working was pretty weird in that way.
"I finished work for that day and cycled just to relax.
"The bike felt really funny, like I was going through rocks.
"And then I was looking at my right hand and I was 'going that doesn't look like my hand'.
"I kept looking at it and then put my hand down to try and get my water bottle and I dropped it.
"On the location I was on I was quite visible to the road and I saw a paramedic on a motorcycle coming down the road.
"I was looking at him and I could see that he was looking at me but I couldn't work out the brain actions to wave him down.
"He looked at me, slowed down even, and just went on by."
He then called his wife but was unable to properly say where he was.
Quick thinking Pippa managed to locate him thanks to the tracking watch Troy was wearing and she rushed out to find him.
Troy added: "She took one step out of the car and looked at me and said 'you've had a stroke'."
Troy managed to find support through people who had also suffered from the life-changing condition at the Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland charity.
Incredibly Troy has battled through the set back and now even undertakes charity challenges on his bike.
He added:“The fight really starts as you try to come to terms with what has happened when you are at home on your own.
"I was only 52 years old. You never imagine a stroke can happen to you or your loved one. We were in shock.
"For the next four weeks, I had extensive rehabilitation and speech therapy in hospital. I was the youngest person on the ward, and fought hard to recover, doing everything I could to get back on my feet.
"Around six months after the stroke, I started to feel very fatigued after therapy.
"At the same time I was going through all of this, my father-in-law was also unwell and sadly passed away.
"The stress and strain began to tell on me. No one had told me you can get depressed after a stroke.
"It’s not just about getting out of hospital. The fight really starts as you try to come to terms with what has happened when you are at home on your own.
“It means so much to speak with people who have been through what I’m going through.”
He added: "My time as a Marine taught me to be strong. But it also showed me how much stronger I am when I’m part of a team. Audrey and Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland gave me the team that helped push me forward.
"Your donations mean the absolute world to me because they fund the work of the people who rescued me and my family from the darkest time in our lives."
To donate to the charity click here.
