Stroke victim plans charity night to say thank you

Brian thought he was perfectly healthy until he suffered from a stroke out of the blue.

“I was at a friend’s house when it happened,” he explained. “I got a really sore head above my right eye, then I dropped my glass of coke and my speech started to slur. I just thought I wasn’t feeling well so I went home.

“My mum called the out of hours doctor and he said it was a migraine and to go to bed but mum insisted on taking me to the Lagan Valley Hospital. Within ten minutes they realised I had had a stroke caused by a brain bleed and high blood pressure.

“If I had gone to bed that night I would never have woken up again.”

Brian was in hospital for a week whilst tests were carried out. His family were told to prepare for the worst, that he would be lucky to survive and if he did he may suffer brain damage. Luckily, Brian pulled through and, although it took a few months for his strength to return, he is now back to work and is grateful for all the support he has received.

Now he has organised a fundraising evening next Saturday, April 14, at 7.30pm at the First Lisburn Blues Supporters Club in Sackville Street to raise money for Chest, Heart and Stroke.

The evening will include a quiz and a DJ. There will also be a raffle, with lots of prizes, including vouchers, a football signed by David Healy, and much more.

Admission to the event is £5. 70% of the money raised will be donated to Chest, Heart and Stroke and the remaining 30% will go to the Potters House Orphanage in Romania, where Brian will be travelling with a mission team from Elmwood Presbyterian Church in July.

For further information or to make a donation to this worthwhile cause, contact Brian on 07979141796.

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