Heather Gray

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

“I Didn’t Even Know It Was a Stroke” – My Story, by Heather

I was just sitting on the couch watching Netflix when my vision suddenly started to disappear. Everything went grey, except for this tiny section in the bottom-left corner — all I could see was the time on the screen. I didn’t panic. I wasn’t stressed. I didn’t even know I was having a stroke.

I called an ambulance, but when the paramedics arrived, they didn’t realise I couldn’t see properly. I was still walking around and had to have help to find the ambulance. It wasn’t until 2 or 3 days later that I started to get parts of my vision back. That time in between was scary and full of uncertainty.

I’d just moved to Adelaide, South Australia to become my mum’s full-time carer in April 2024. On the 1st of August, I had a stroke. As frightening as it was, the timing turned out to be a blessing — I’m now close to a hospital and involved in stroke research here in SA. The support I’ve received has been incredible.

This wasn’t my first stroke either. I had my first one in Queensland, which left me with some bruising around my eye. But this second one changed everything. I lost vision in the right hemisphere of both eyes. I’ve regained about 73% of my sight now, but what’s returned is blotchy. My brain tries to fill in the missing parts, which makes things really confusing at times.

Guide Dogs SA gave me a cane to help me get around. I still need support with things like counting money, but that hasn’t stopped me from volunteering twice a week at the Animal Welfare League. It’s a big part of looking after my mental health, and I’m out in the community two days a week for about three hours each day.

When I came across Stride4Stroke on the Stroke Foundation’s social media, I knew I had to get involved. I needed to do something for me — something to help reduce my risk of another stroke. I used to love social media, but with my vision loss, it’s been a struggle. Stride4Stroke gives me purpose and helps me feel connected again.

I want to raise awareness because every stroke is different. Knowing the signs and getting help quickly is so important. That’s why I’ve joined a stroke research group here in SA. I’ve seen first-hand how much education is still needed — and I want to be part of that change.

Thank you for reading my story and supporting Stride4Stroke. Together, we can make a difference.