Bruce's Story

Stroke History : Bruce Young

2017 Labour Day I started my journey

“Don’t look directly at Stanley. He could bite you,” said my son.

On Labour Day 2017 I did and he did!

Back to teaching for another school year 2017. As always I left my summer behind and got down to planning for all my classes.I had been assigned 6 different courses out of seven classes in 5 different classrooms!! At the best of times this was a daunting task despite 36 years of teaching. Sitting at my desk in tears I could not separate and organize my work. I was overwhelmed trying my best to be a team player and collaborate with colleagues. On September 7 I joined my colleagues  in the library for the opening staff meeting. Five minutes in I was so confused and upset I had to leave the room.. With the help and understanding of a counsellor and VP I took the rest of the day off.  That was of course not enough. Severe posterior headaches were not alleviated by a double dose of Extra Strength Tylenol. Through September and into October I attempted to teach.  Every student's question drew a blank.. My GP attempted to help by prescribing a depression/anxiety medication AND prescribing a reduced teaching load. Neither helped. Saturday morning of October 21   I aimlessly walked around my bedroom. My son saw me and said, “Dad, you are having a stroke.”

911 and off to Surrey Memorial. In the ER by chance I was seen by my neuro ophthalmologist who ended up  following my case. Not knowing the cause of the stroke I was sent to the critical care unit and put on the strongest antibiotic available. With help from  the CDC it was determined to be caused by a bacterium from the mouth of my dog, Stanley.

It was discovered that a clump of the bacteria had adhered to a chamber of my heart. Within hours of scheduled open heart surgery an antibiotic was found.  I was then  discharged  receiving 6 weeks of a daily  antibiotic drip. 4 MRIs over this time showed I was “cured” leaving behind a toonie sized scar across the back of my brain. Curiously from day 1 I had not shown any typical physical signs of a stroke. What was happening in my head was quite another story. Impaired vision nixed driving.My inability to multitask, plan, organise lessons, and follow conversations in a group context   took away  my ability to teach. What was I to do?

“Volunteer at the local seniors centre,” my wife suggested.

Which I did.

Then came COVID. Depression and anxiety took hold having lost my connections to family and friends.

Relying upon limited virtual services provided through MSP and Blue Cross I got prescriptions, physiotherapy  and counselling to the extent my budget would allow. With no other supports in sight It was time for Google: 

key words:after stroke support

Up came the March of Dimes and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. My only recollection of the March of Dimes was Jerry Lewis and the annual March of Dimes Telethon. Because of COVID my research for virtual support brought up a myriad of free online March of Dimes programs specifically for stroke survivors. Ahhh…hope. After two weeks of tippy toeing around programs sponsored by the March of Dimes I was going full tilt:  nationwide Stroke Survivor Group Conversations, PERK,TALK,Chair Exercises, and monthly “Ask an Expert '' presentations.   Feeling misunderstood by those round me  who had not experienced stroke, it was gratifying to talk through Zoom to a room full of stroke survivors who truly understood my cognitive and emotional issues. Through the provincial and local chapters I have made so many new friends that have shown me I am not alone.

Through my new after stroke friends I have heard stories of the strengths and deficiencies of after stroke recovery support across the country. With their encouragement I have launched a stroke survivor team to forge links between the March of Dimes, the Heart & Stroke Foundation, and BC Brain Wellness, all of whom provide programs and services to all stroke survivors across Canada.

With heart-felt thanks (pardon the pun) I appreciate all the work being done on my behalf and the other 400, 000 stroke survivors across Canada.