Jerry Johnson – My Story ...
At the age of six years, I was diagnosed with a congenital heart murmur which meant that I would need to be monitored regularly. It was during one of the routine annual checks of my heart, that it was discovered that my heart condition was worsening and during a consultation at the John Radcliffe hospital. I was given the option of having a metal valve or a pig’s valve and in November 1995 I underwent an operation to have a metal aortic valve inserted. On my return home I gradually returned to a more normal form of life and was put on the blood thinning agent, warfarin.
I became a student at Northampton University, where I gained a BA (Hons) in politics and philosophy whilst working part time at a small Finance company. In 1999, I studied for two years for an MA in political behaviour elections at Essex University.
In 2002, I suffered a minor stroke which resulted in my eyes being affected. During the next few years I went to Manchester University to do social research and statistics MSc, and from then on had various roles, including a Lecturer and Researcher, at Northampton University, City University London and Manchester Universities.
I spent a great deal of time travelling on the train reading and writing; it was on one of these occasions away that I left my tablets in a hotel room and, as a consequence, suffered a stroke.
It was one day in May 2006 when I was on my way to work. I met a colleague but as I went to say “hello” to him and nothing came out of my mouth. It soon became apparent there was something very wrong and he called 999.
I was taken to Northampton General Hospital where I had a brain scan and it was discovered that I had suffered a stroke, which, this time, left me with a slight numbness on the right side of my body. I spent most of the first week sleeping and when I was well enough to accept visitors I found that, although I knew their faces, I could not recall their names. No Thrombolytic!
During the four weeks I spent in hospital, each day I was given speech therapy and occupational therapy as my stroke had caused Broca’s aphasia which meant I could not speak or read. I also had cognitive problems. I was affected physically a lack of feeling and the right side being slightly numb.
Lots of appointments of Speech Therapy!
For twelve months after my stroke I suffered with epileptic fits; tablets now keep this under control and I have not had a fit for a eighteen months. I still have regular checkups at the hospital Epilepsy Clinic and the surgery blood tests.
More and more helping as a volunteer - Different Strokes, Connect, Stroke Club, Cardiac and Stroke Network at Manchester and at East Midlands Cardiac and Stroke Network and Speech and Language Therapist Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuro-imaging.
Since then I have been gradually getting back into work mode, started a new career at Different Strokes. At present I am working in the office at Milton Keynes, using my financial skills. I manage the numeracy side of my job and, although I am not confident in speaking on the phone yet, being in the office is very beneficial as my speech is improving more each day.
At the age of six years, I was diagnosed with a congenital heart murmur which meant that I would need to be monitored regularly. It was during one of the routine annual checks of my heart, that it was discovered that my heart condition was worsening and during a consultation at the John Radcliffe hospital. I was given the option of having a metal valve or a pig’s valve and in November 1995 I underwent an operation to have a metal aortic valve inserted. On my return home I gradually returned to a more normal form of life and was put on the blood thinning agent, warfarin.
I became a student at Northampton University, where I gained a BA (Hons) in politics and philosophy whilst working part time at a small Finance company. In 1999, I studied for two years for an MA in political behaviour elections at Essex University.
In 2002, I suffered a minor stroke which resulted in my eyes being affected. During the next few years I went to Manchester University to do social research and statistics MSc, and from then on had various roles, including a Lecturer and Researcher, at Northampton University, City University London and Manchester Universities.
I spent a great deal of time travelling on the train reading and writing; it was on one of these occasions away that I left my tablets in a hotel room and, as a consequence, suffered a stroke.
It was one day in May 2006 when I was on my way to work. I met a colleague but as I went to say “hello” to him and nothing came out of my mouth. It soon became apparent there was something very wrong and he called 999.
I was taken to Northampton General Hospital where I had a brain scan and it was discovered that I had suffered a stroke, which, this time, left me with a slight numbness on the right side of my body. I spent most of the first week sleeping and when I was well enough to accept visitors I found that, although I knew their faces, I could not recall their names. No Thrombolytic!
During the four weeks I spent in hospital, each day I was given speech therapy and occupational therapy as my stroke had caused Broca’s aphasia which meant I could not speak or read. I also had cognitive problems. I was affected physically a lack of feeling and the right side being slightly numb.
Lots of appointments of Speech Therapy!
For twelve months after my stroke I suffered with epileptic fits; tablets now keep this under control and I have not had a fit for a eighteen months. I still have regular checkups at the hospital Epilepsy Clinic and the surgery blood tests.
More and more helping as a volunteer - Different Strokes, Connect, Stroke Club, Cardiac and Stroke Network at Manchester and at East Midlands Cardiac and Stroke Network and Speech and Language Therapist Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuro-imaging.
Since then I have been gradually getting back into work mode, started a new career at Different Strokes. At present I am working in the office at Milton Keynes, using my financial skills. I manage the numeracy side of my job and, although I am not confident in speaking on the phone yet, being in the office is very beneficial as my speech is improving more each day.
Stroke & Aphasia (and now, work and volunteer)
Different Strokes:
Volunteer (Oct 2007-Jul 2009) http://www.differentstrokes.co.uk/ Finacial Manager (Aug 2009 to now) http://www.differentstrokes.co.uk/ [email protected]
Different Strokes Northampton (Coordinator)
http://www.differentstrokesnorthampton.co.uk/
Connect:
Trainers 1 to 1 (Jun 2008-) http://www.ukconnect.org/
Stroke Club (Stroke Association):
1 to 1 communication (Sep 2009-Sep 2011)
http://www.stroke.org.uk/in_your_area/england/east_midlands/local_stroke_clubs/index.html
Manchester University:
Talking to the students at the Speech Therapy (2008, 2009: 3 times)
http://www.psych-sci.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/whatwedo/slt/
Northampton University:
The Stroke Journey: Talking to the students at the Speech Therapy (2 day, 2009, 2011)
http://www.northampton.ac.uk/info/200217/professional-short-courses
Greater Manchester and Cheshire Cardiac and Stroke Network:
PPI and a film (2009-) http://www.gmccardiacnetwork.nhs.uk/
A film ‘We had a stroke’
East Midlands Cardiac and Stroke Network:
Stroke Site Visit at the Hospital Stroke Unit (6 hospitals, 2009) http://www.emcardiacandstrokenetwork.nhs.uk/ Patient Partnership Board meeting (half a day a quarter).
Wide Angle Media:
A film (Different Strokes) http://www.differentstrokes.co.uk/.
Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuro-imaging: 3 days ‘guinea pigs’. http://www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellcome_Trust_Centre_for_Neuroimaging and http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ploras
Aphasia Research Project (Carole Pound): 24 Meetings (Connect) 2010 - 2013 http://friendshipandaphasia.weebly.com/
HEIC Greater Manchester:
Stroke e-learning, DVD and YouTube steering group(4 meeting) 2011 http://www.gmhiec.org.uk/projects/view/stroke
Different Strokes:
Volunteer (Oct 2007-Jul 2009) http://www.differentstrokes.co.uk/ Finacial Manager (Aug 2009 to now) http://www.differentstrokes.co.uk/ [email protected]
Different Strokes Northampton (Coordinator)
http://www.differentstrokesnorthampton.co.uk/
Connect:
Trainers 1 to 1 (Jun 2008-) http://www.ukconnect.org/
Stroke Club (Stroke Association):
1 to 1 communication (Sep 2009-Sep 2011)
http://www.stroke.org.uk/in_your_area/england/east_midlands/local_stroke_clubs/index.html
Manchester University:
Talking to the students at the Speech Therapy (2008, 2009: 3 times)
http://www.psych-sci.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/whatwedo/slt/
Northampton University:
The Stroke Journey: Talking to the students at the Speech Therapy (2 day, 2009, 2011)
http://www.northampton.ac.uk/info/200217/professional-short-courses
Greater Manchester and Cheshire Cardiac and Stroke Network:
PPI and a film (2009-) http://www.gmccardiacnetwork.nhs.uk/
A film ‘We had a stroke’
East Midlands Cardiac and Stroke Network:
Stroke Site Visit at the Hospital Stroke Unit (6 hospitals, 2009) http://www.emcardiacandstrokenetwork.nhs.uk/ Patient Partnership Board meeting (half a day a quarter).
Wide Angle Media:
A film (Different Strokes) http://www.differentstrokes.co.uk/.
Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuro-imaging: 3 days ‘guinea pigs’. http://www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellcome_Trust_Centre_for_Neuroimaging and http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ploras
Aphasia Research Project (Carole Pound): 24 Meetings (Connect) 2010 - 2013 http://friendshipandaphasia.weebly.com/
HEIC Greater Manchester:
Stroke e-learning, DVD and YouTube steering group(4 meeting) 2011 http://www.gmhiec.org.uk/projects/view/stroke