Angela Dodd

I’m taking on the challenge of Stride4Stroke and raising funds for Stroke Foundation!

I’m doing Stride4Stroke because stroke isn’t just something I’ve heard about—it’s something I’ve lived through.

In December 2023, my life changed overnight. I had a stroke caused by an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) that I’d had since birth without knowing it was there. I underwent brain surgery to remove it. After the surgery, the piece of skull that had been removed was put back, but around 6–12 months later it disintegrated, meaning I had to undergo another major surgery to have it replaced with a custom 3D-printed skull implant.

After my stroke, I couldn’t walk or talk properly. Learning to do things that once felt automatic became my new normal. Recovery has been long, frustrating, and at times incredibly lonely, but it’s also shown me just how strong people can be.

Today, a lot of people probably wouldn’t know I’d had a stroke. I can walk, work, drive, and get on with life, but recovery didn’t end when I left hospital. Fatigue is still one of my biggest challenges. When I’m exhausted, the weakness on my right side becomes more noticeable, and I can struggle to get my words out. I also find it much harder to multitask than I used to, and I can become overstimulated quite easily in busy or noisy environments. These are the kinds of invisible effects that many stroke survivors live with every day, even when they look completely “fine” on the outside.

Having a stroke in my twenties completely changed the way I look at life. It taught me not to take the little things for granted and reminded me that strokes can happen to anyone, no matter their age.

I’m taking part in Stride4Stroke to celebrate how far I’ve come, raise awareness that stroke can affect young people too, and hopefully help support others who are facing the same journey. If sharing my story encourages even one person to recognise the signs of stroke sooner, support stroke research, or realise they’re not alone in their recovery, then it’s worth every step.

Every stride I take is something I once wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to do again.