đź’” “I love him so much… but the man I married is gone.” đź’”
Debs from Penarth shares a heart-wrenching journey that has struck a chord with many. Her husband, Gary, suffered a devastating stroke that turned their lives upside down. Once a lively, clever man, Gary has been left with limited speech and mobility, now only able to say four words.
It was a cold January night when Debs’ world changed forever. She heard a loud bang and found her husband on the floor, showing clear signs of a stroke. Despite calling 999 immediately, an ambulance took almost five hours to arrive. During those agonising hours, Debs and her family felt helpless, trying to comfort Gary who was slipping away from them.
Gary’s stroke has left him with significant brain damage. After months in hospital, and inconsistent care, he’s now home with Debs, but life is far from normal. Simple tasks have become herculean challenges; washing him is almost impossible without proper facilities, and they’ve faced trauma due to delays in medical support and inadequate home adaptations.
Despite stepping up heroically, Debs can’t help but feel abandoned by the system. She had to quit her job to care for Gary full-time, becoming physically and emotionally drained in the process. The housing adaptation delays and poor ambulance response times have compounded the couple’s struggles, leaving Debs desperate and fearful for the future.
The local ambulance service has apologised, acknowledging the delays in Gary’s care, and has promised improvements in response times for stroke patients. Meanwhile, Debs continues to fight for the necessary home adaptations to make daily life manageable.
This journey of love, loss, and resilience highlights the pressing need for systemic changes in emergency care and support for carers. Debs continues to be a pillar of strength for Gary, determined to ensure he lives with dignity and surrounded by love. But she can’t do this alone.
Drop a ❤️ in the comments if you stand with Debs and families in similar situations, calling for better support and services! 🫂 #StrokeAwareness #CarersSupport #LoveAndLoss