On the 15th of April 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nancy Wangeci woke up like any other day. She had been on leave and was set to return to work.
After using the toilet, she went to flush it, but suddenly, everything went black. She couldn’t see the knob, splash, and she found herself falling. She held onto a sink and went to the door, where she collapsed.
That’s when her husband noticed her noisy breathing and realized that something was seriously wrong.
And thus began Nancy’s journey as a stroke survivor. She spent a month and a half in the hospital and was discharged in a wheelchair.
For the next two months, she was taken to physiotherapy sessions in a wheelchair, but eventually, she started using a walking stick. In 2021, she declared that she would put down her walking stick and start walking without it. She has made progress and is still on the road to recovery.
However, she has weakness on her left side, making it challenging to walk and work.
Nancy had other health issues as well. She had trouble swallowing and speaking, but through the process of physiotherapy, she began to heal herself.
The pain in her left shoulder was unbearable, but with the help of physiotherapy and medication, she managed to cope.
Nancy had to accept that she had a disease called Stroke and learn how to live with it. She underwent psychological counseling, which helped her live in the present and not worry about the future.
Nancy’s husband was her caregiver during this difficult time. He found it challenging to support her and continue with their old routine.
The disease had a psychological impact on him as well. However, he was encouraged by the physiotherapists who educated him and gave him counseling.
Nancy’s stroke affected her family’s finances, as the drugs she needed were often out of stock in government hospitals, and they had to buy them from elsewhere.
Physiotherapy was also expensive, and they had to pay someone to assist Nancy at their home.
Despite the challenges, Nancy is an inspiration to other stroke survivors. She has shown resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity. Her story serves as a reminder that life can change instantly, but with determination and support from loved ones, one can overcome any obstacle.