Stirling woman shares stroke experience in effort to safeguard 'vital' under threat service

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A Stirling woman who had a stroke at the age of just 30 is lending her voice to a campaign to safeguard a vital treatment that significantly reduces long-term disability.More than 150 stroke clinicians have backed a call from charities Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) and the Stroke Association asking the Scottish Government to reinstate £7million to the national thrombectomy service funding.An open letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care ahead of the Scottish Government budget, says a 50 per cent funding cut and a recruitment freeze is a mistake.Ruth Hector, now aged 36, says she dreads to think what would have happened had she not had the thrombectomy treatment when she first had a stroke six years ago.“I had a stroke at the age of 30,” said Ruth. “I lost the ability to walk and talk in an instant.

I was too young to have a stroke and to feel trapped inside my own body was scary and hard to comprehend.“I was taken to The Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh, where after investigations I was able to receive a thrombectomy.“After receiving that, I was able to talk perfectly, write and walk around within hours.

It felt like I had made a full recovery.“I was so thankful for receiving that treatment, I dread to think what it would have been like otherwise.”Some time later Ruth went on to have another stroke, however this time did not receive the treatment.She says while her recovery has been good with the second stroke, it is nowhere near as good as the outcome after thrombectomy.“I believe everyone should have access to this life-saving treatment.

My independence is everything. I’m working now, I take part in fundraising events, so truly believe I’m contributing to society and that feels good.”In the letter