For almost 54 years of my life, I have worked as a black cab driver. It was a very busy schedule. I would have to wake up at 3:30 am and get ready to pick up the cab I had hired for 3 days. Work was very important to me, and it made me feel like I had a purpose, which was to take care of my family and keep the money rolling in, as there are always bills to pay.
It was a typical morning for me, and I was on a call with a friend. It was around 6 am when my friend told me that my voice didn’t sound right. Worried, I called for my wife, who said the left side of my face was down. She quickly dialled for the ambulance, and they arrived within 12 minutes.
I was discharged from the hospital (Queen Square) overnight, and I am very grateful that the stroke didn’t do much damage to me.
During the initial days of recovery, I felt impatient and wanted to return to my normal, everyday routine. I also felt that I was losing my place in the world cause I lost my job. I didn’t feel as strong as I was before. Throughout my recovery, I am deeply grateful to my wife, who has been a tremendous source of support for me.
The most important thing to me was work, and since I didn’t have that anymore because of the stroke, it was a challenge I had to overcome. Along with the loss of my job, I struggled with simple tasks like putting on clothes, as I would quite often lose my balance, with the left side of my body feeling weaker.
Even though I have had these challenges, I still feel grateful that the stroke didn’t affect me to a great extent. I still do gardening, which I really enjoy doing.
I learned about the Stroke Café through St. Michael’s Hospital. They handed me a list of support groups that I could join, and I chose to join the stroke café in Palmers Green. I’m glad I did that.
When I was a little boy, I used to stutter, but as I grew, it went away. But one of the effects the stroke had on me was the stutter; it was back, and I took speech therapy to help me with that. I genuinely feel that speech therapy helped me, and I still attend physiotherapy because it aids my balance and coordination.
Since having the stroke, I found myself isolating, and it took me a while, but I had learned by now that acceptance is the only good way to get ahead with this. That is what I did: I accepted my new life and moved on with the new things.
After my stroke, I am unable to feel my emotions or cry, and I haven’t cried since 1986, which is when I lost my brother. I can easily express how I feel, but I don’t feel emotions well.
I have learnt to be more honest with people and value the people and the relationships I have. I am also going to church more often, which provides me with a sense of comfort.
Something to remember along the way is not to lose your faith if you’ve got it and live each day like it is very precious; live for today. Accept what life gives you and always listen to the people who care for you.
