Agency is essential for stroke victims

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Winnipeg Free Press, Monday December 29, 2008
Reproduced with permission.

Bill Henry takes a deep breath to steel himself for the story he's about to share.
Nov. 11, 1996.

"A good Remembrance Day for a lot of people; for me it was a drastic turn."

Henry was in his house that day, getting ready to drive to his mom's place. Suddenly he couldn't talk.

He drove to his mom's, not yet realizing there was anything wrong. His mom knew something was wrong. Henry had suffered a stroke. He couldn't talk.

The following weeks were hard for Henry, then 44.

"I cried an awful lot. I did. I cried an awful lot. They say grown men don't cry, well you know what? Grown men do cry."

Henry soon decided his crying was useless. He wanted to work to get back what he once had.

Two months after his stroke, Henry's wife Debbie called the Heart and Stroke Foundation. They told her to take Henry to the Stroke Recovery Association of Manitoba Inc. (SAM), a United Way partner agency.

Today, 57-year-old Henry's speech is just fine. He smiles and laughs easily expressing the deep gratitude he has for the support he received from SAM, for which he now volunteers.

Henry works with Anne Manitowich, 54, another SAM volunteer who suffered two strokes -- one 12 years ago and the second two years later. She can't work or drive because her balance is bad and her vision is limited.

"I can't see underneath me. It's black here. My vision is from here," she says, holding her hands in front at chest level.

Manitowich says SAM gave her back a normal life.

The United Way counts SAM among more than 100 partner agencies they support. Formed in 1971, SAM provides therapy, peer support, volunteer opportunities, training, family support and a host of other services to help stroke survivors and their families. When stroke survivors phone the Heart and Stroke Foundation for help, they get SAM's phone number.

Henry was president of SAM for more than two years. He believes that without the United Way's support, SAM would not exist and stroke survivors would have no place to go. Henry, who has also volunteered for the United Way, stresses that all money donated to the United Way goes to the partner agencies because a provincial grant covers all United Way administration costs.

The United Way's current campaign includes the "leadership challenge." A group of longtime donors is challenging 2,500 Winnipeggers to pledge $100 a month for a year. If Winnipeg steps up then the challengers will donate $250,000. Answering the leadership challenge also gets your name on the United Way leadership challenge web page, unless you prefer anonymity.

You can donate by phone at 477-5360 or online

What to look for

Five stroke warning signs:

Weakness: Sudden loss of strength or sudden numbness in the face, arm or leg, even if temporary.

Unable speaking: Sudden difficulty speaking or understanding or sudden confusion, even if temporary.

Vision problems: Sudden trouble with vision, even if temporary.

Headache: Sudden severe and unusual headache.

Dizziness: Sudden loss of balance,

Is someone having a stroke? Perform the "STR" test on them:

"S": Ask the person to smile.

"T": Ask the person to talk. Give them a simple sentence to repeat.

"R": Ask the person to raise both arms.

If the person cannot perform any of these tasks, call 911 and describe the symptoms.

Source: Heart & Stroke Foundation of Manitoba and Stroke Recovery Association of Manitoba Inc.