THEIR lives were turned upside down. From being independent and leading successful lives, two stroke survivors had to relearn everything from scratch.
It was a long and difficult journey for Alvin Tay, 52, and Shahrizan Jamaluddin, 57. Stroke had rendered half of their bodies paralysed and robbed them of the ability to speak coherently.
As a manager for an insurance agency, Tays hectic working life lead to a sedentary lifestyle. A diabetic for 20 years, he also has high blood pressure and borderline cholesterol. At the time of the attack, in June this year, he weighed 90kg.
When he experienced numbness on the right side of his body, his family members rushed him to a medical centre where he was diagnosed with multiple acute stroke, better known as influx. From his scan report, it was found that Tay had five clots in his left side of his brain. He couldnt speak properly and was paralysed on the right side of his body, from head to toe.
Ten days after the attack, Tay was brought to the National Stroke Association Of Malaysia (Nasam) centre in a wheelchair. At that time, he could not even lift his head, which was tilted to the right. He was in tremendous pain. He had to use all his energy just to move his right arm.
I was depressed when the doctor told me there was nothing that could be done. I thought my life was over and that I would be a burden to my family. But my wife, my strongest supporter, told me not to give up hope. She told me that I could get better, says Tay.
When I joined other stroke survivors at Nasam, I realised I needed to help myself so that I could get my life back because I was not alone. It helped to know that there were others who were in the same condition or even worse but they were not letting their disability hold them back.
Tay became more diligent in his rehabilitation and even continued the exercises at home. He spent 70 per cent of his time on rehabilitation every day.
Through determination, he is now able to walk, albeit slowly. Although the right side of his body has not fully recovered, he has decided to work two to three hours a day just to keep in touch with-his business.
As stroke survivors, I believe we can heal and get better one step at a time. It was difficult and tough at first. I couldnt even lift my head and it was a Herculean task to lift my right hand. But with therapy and support from everyone, I was able to do it, he says.
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Life after stroke