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Hi my name is Jules Stuart and I am 37 years old. I thought I write and tell you about my experiences of being diagnosed with an acute hemiplegia down my right side when aged 2 yrs 11 mnths in 1974. It started with me being clumsey and dropping things, this gradually came over a few days, when my Mother asked her brother what he thought as she knew something was wrong, he agreed and thought I was paralysed down the right side.
I was taken to my GP, who sent me to The Royal United Hospital in Bath, where I spent a few days. At that time the Whooping Cough jab was in 2 parts, I had had the 1st part before my hemiplegia but I was never allowed the 2nd part on Dr's orders. ( makes you wonder).
My parents were never told the cause and were left completely in the dark. After I was in Bath I was transferred to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol. Where I was given a lumber puncture without my parents knowledge.
After my stay in hospital, I had physio at The Mary Dorian unit in Bath, starting off with once a week, gradually getting less and less. My consultant told my parents that my immune system would be affected, when I got any illnesses I would get it worst and would take me longer to get over, my memory could be affected, my concentration would be poor and my metabolism was rubbish and I would be overweight.
34 yrs later, I can ride a horse, swim, have done Judo, abseiling, drive a car, walk, cook, anything "normal people" can do and most importantly have a fantastic partner who sees me for who I am and not my disability. I'm not saying its been easy over the years, I was badly picked on at school and jobs were hard to get, although it is slightly easier.
I'm just trying to put across that its not all bad and it does get easier to cope with . It's made me the person I am and if someone says I won't be able to do something I go out of my way to prove that I can.
If your child has just been diagnosed with a hemiplegia, just remember they can live a near normal life as possible, you need to believe in them and don't give up and fight the system for all the help you can get. We were never told we could claim anything and never got any help.
I was taken to my GP, who sent me to The Royal United Hospital in Bath, where I spent a few days. At that time the Whooping Cough jab was in 2 parts, I had had the 1st part before my hemiplegia but I was never allowed the 2nd part on Dr's orders. ( makes you wonder).
My parents were never told the cause and were left completely in the dark. After I was in Bath I was transferred to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol. Where I was given a lumber puncture without my parents knowledge.
After my stay in hospital, I had physio at The Mary Dorian unit in Bath, starting off with once a week, gradually getting less and less. My consultant told my parents that my immune system would be affected, when I got any illnesses I would get it worst and would take me longer to get over, my memory could be affected, my concentration would be poor and my metabolism was rubbish and I would be overweight.
34 yrs later, I can ride a horse, swim, have done Judo, abseiling, drive a car, walk, cook, anything "normal people" can do and most importantly have a fantastic partner who sees me for who I am and not my disability. I'm not saying its been easy over the years, I was badly picked on at school and jobs were hard to get, although it is slightly easier.
I'm just trying to put across that its not all bad and it does get easier to cope with . It's made me the person I am and if someone says I won't be able to do something I go out of my way to prove that I can.
If your child has just been diagnosed with a hemiplegia, just remember they can live a near normal life as possible, you need to believe in them and don't give up and fight the system for all the help you can get. We were never told we could claim anything and never got any help.
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1 Comments On This Entry
Hi Jules...I am 40 this Sunday & have had left Hemiplegia all my life...I to have had a full & mostly happy life... no high heels in my wardrobe, opening jars, putting on king size quilt cover have probably been 3 of the most frustrating things! Nothing major a sence of humour has helped...school kids teased me for years but big brothers & sisters did that aswell! I have just given up being a care worker after 20 years...I have 3 children I had by c/section 20,17 & 11...I also love to cook/garden and my husband works away a lot so its up to me to keep things in order lol around our home...I read your letter...What happened to you in hospital did not surprise me @ all...I can relate to that big time!I was wondering if you would mind telling me how your general health is now please...In winter I get a lot of chest infections & I am a non smoker....the left side of my chest is weak & I don't clear any muck that is there...Hope you don't think i'm rude asking you this...I see a lot in relation to children or people who get this when they are older but don't know anyone who has had it most of there life...Regards Molly Jayne
molly jayne,
28 October 2008 - 07:24 AM
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