A Canberra mother who survived a stroke in 2014 is taking to the stage this weekend to shine a spotlight on the profound impact stroke has on survivors and their loved ones.
Gretel Burgess was 42 years old when a stroke struck. She was camping in the Daintree Forest in Tropical North Queensland when she felt a hard knock to the back of her head.
“It felt someone hit me at the back of the head with a shovel and then I collapsed. I lost all my vision and I couldn’t find my words or speak. It was like being in a dark void.”
She was rushed to hospital via ambulance where she discovered she had a stroke caused by a clot that travelled to her brain from a leaky valve in her heart
While Gretel has physically recovered, she says the impacts on her mental health are long-lasting.
“Recovery was really hard. The physical came back but the mental was hard. I couldn’t remember things, I was getting words mixed up, and still do, and I had anxiety.”
Gretel has turned her experience into a theatre performance titled ‘ A Stroke of Luck’ which explores how stroke impacts an individual and their family. The show begins on Friday night at the Gorman Arts Centre.
“I want people to know that stroke doesn’t discriminate, and I want people to be aware of the implications of stroke from the physical impacts to the mental impacts, not only on the survivor but their loved ones.”
Stroke Foundation Interim Chief Executive Officer, Dr Lisa Murphy, says Gretel’s performance goes beyond the stage.
“By sharing her experience in such a creative and public way, Gretel is doing more than performing, she is educating her community on the very real and long-lasting impacts of stroke. It’s hoped these important messages will stay with the audience long after the curtains go down.”
Gretel is one of more than 6,200 stroke survivors living in the community in Canberra and it is estimated that almost 400 first-time strokes will be experienced by residents in the ACT by the end of this year.
Stroke Foundation is urging Canberrans to learn the signs of stroke to know how to spot one quickly and call an ambulance immediately.
The stroke signs are covered in the F.A.S.T acronym (Face, Arms, Speech, and Time) which highlights the three common signs of stroke – facial droop, the inability to lift both arms, and slurred speech – and reminds people they cannot waste time and must get emergency medical treatment.
“Stroke is a medical emergency. The better the chance of a good recovery and living well after stroke.” Dr Murphy said.
A recent Stroke Foundation survey found that ACT residents are among the most aware in the country when it comes to recognising the three common stroke signs.
As a national average, 51 per cent of Australians recognise speech difficulties may indicate a stroke is occurring – in the ACT that recognition level is much higher at 58%. At 47 per cent, Canberrans are also much more aware of facial droop as a stroke sign than the average Australian (40 per cent).
The ACT also leads the country in recognising that the inability to lift both arms may signal a stroke – 16 percent in Canberra compared to 10 per cent of Melburnians and nine per cent of Sydneysiders.
“This is a great start but ACT residents can’t rest on this success. There’s still a lot of work to do.” Dr Murphy said.
