“They didn’t think I would survive after my stroke. Now I’m helping others recover from theirs”

For Gail, 65, from Comber, this isn’t just volunteering - it’s a full‑circle moment.

Eighteen months ago, she suffered a severe, life‑threatening stroke that changed her life completely. This Volunteers’ Week, she is sharing her story and how it led her to support others on their own recovery journeys.

“I had my stroke in November 2024,” Gail recalls. “I had no symptoms, no warning signs and when the stroke hit, every part of my body was affected.

"I was at home and I just collapsed out of nowhere. My husband found me lying on my back with blood coming out of my head.”

He phoned 999 immediately. “Within eight minutes a Paramedic in a Rapid Response Vehicle arrived,” Gail said. “Two minutes later the ambulance arrived with three paramedics.

"The Air Ambulance had also been called, and it arrived a few minutes later. The doctor told my husband he thought I had suffered a brain‑related incident. I was placed into an induced coma and airlifted to the Royal Victoria Hospital.”

There, doctors discovered a ruptured brain aneurysm. Gail was transferred to Critical Care, ventilated, fitted with a feeding tube and catheter, and required 24‑hour nursing.

“The next morning I had surgery to put a stent and coiling in to stop the bleed on my brain. The day after that the sedation started to be withdrawn and a few days later, I was transferred to Neurology. I can't remember any of that time.”

By early December, nurses began feeding her thickened water on a spoon. “I couldn't talk because my vocal cords had been damaged by the ventilator. I was trying desperately to talk but no words would come out.”

A few weeks later, she was transferred to the Ulster Hospital to begin rehabilitation.

“My left hand was completely paralysed and in a fist. I had to relearn how to walk. I started by standing for a while, then shuffling and pulling myself along on a walking frame. Winning the lottery wouldn’t give you the same feeling I got when I started to be able to move again.”

In January last year Gail moved to the Regional Acquired Brain Injury Unit (RABIU) at Musgrave Park Hospital for intensive rehab.

“It was daunting. I really just wanted to go home. From the moment I arrived, I was tested and assessed. I asked the doctor when I would get home and he said hopefully within five weeks. That gave me something to work towards.”

The work was relentless.

Gail says: “The staff at RABIU saved my life, there's no doubt. They knew how far to push me and when to slow down. I had to learn everything again - even going to the toilet after the catheter was removed. I had to have pureed food. After a few nights I said to myself, ‘It’s only you who can do this’. But it was hard.”

It was at RABIU that the scale of her stroke became clear.

Gail explained: “A student doctor chose my case for his PhD. He told me, ‘There are very few people who have gone through what you have that we can talk to or watch and assess their recovery’. It hit me then that I was lucky to be alive.”

On 5 February 2025, after months in hospital, Gail walked out of RABIU unaided.

“No stick, no walking frame, no wheelchair. I had come a long way from nearly not making it in the Air Ambulance. But when you get home, you realise the recovery journey isn’t over.

"Your confidence has gone. You have to relearn everyday things. The first time I tried to go to Tesco I just stayed in the doorway - it was too busy. But you have to set goals and go back, or you never will.”

To rebuild her confidence, she set weekly tasks: “Make a hair appointment, get my nails done, go to the dentist. It helped me feel like I belonged to normal life again.”

After discharge, the Community Stroke Team supported her at home. “They told me about NICHS, but I wasn’t sure. I just wanted a ‘normal’ life. But then I thought, ‘No. I swore I’d take every bit of help offered’. I didn’t want to look back in 10 years and regret it.”

Gail joined NICHS’s PREP programme, a six‑week physiotherapy‑led course for stroke survivors. “I really enjoyed PREP because everybody was in a similar situation”, Gail continued.

"There was real camaraderie. We shared hints and tips about living with a stroke. You’re part of a group that understands what you’re feeling, whereas family and friends, as great as they are, can’t.”

She completed two rounds. “All the exercises were counted and monitored, and you could see your progress. That kept me motivated. The NICHS staff were so approachable and made time to listen.”

When her 12 weeks ended, Gail wasn’t ready to leave. “I asked about volunteering. I thought I might be able to help others. I found PREP so beneficial I wanted to help people see there is hope - things can get better.”

Volunteering has now become a cornerstone of her week. “Tuesday is PREP day and everything else works around that. When people first come, they might be scared and feel lost. I understand that. It also reminds me how lucky I’ve been.”

Seeing others progress is deeply rewarding, says Gail: “It is unbelievable to see how far people come in six weeks. I would really encourage people to think about volunteering. You get so much out of it.”

Gail reflects on her journey with surprising gratitude. “In a strange way I'm glad my stroke happened. I've learnt I’m stronger than I thought. I appreciate things now that I didn't before. I was dealt a bad hand, but I’ve played it the best way I could.”

Caoimhe Devlin, head of HR and volunteering at NICHS, says, “We are so grateful for all the help and support Gail gives. We involve volunteers in everything we do, and we could not achieve what we do without them.”

l NICHS is currently recruiting volunteers across Northern Ireland. Anyone inspired by Gail’s story can find opportunities at www.nichs.org.uk/volunteering