'I felt normal until partner saw my face droop'

Jo Dayton was unaware she was having a stroke until her partner, Ian, saw one side of her face was drooping

A 37-year-old woman who had a stroke said she did not realise what was happening until her partner noticed one side of her face had fallen.

Jo Dayton, from Grimsby, suffered the stroke, which doctors said was caused by a blood clot, in October last year.

When Jo woke up that day, her partner, Ian, noticed her face was slumped on one side and called an ambulance.

Jo said: "When he was on the phone telling them he thought I was having a stroke, I was thinking 'don't be stupid, no I'm not'."

Jo said she felt "normal" and "no different at all" when Ian noticed one side of her face was drooping.

He tried to sit Jo on the side of the bed, but she could not sit up.

So, he laid her on the floor and that is when Jo said she realised she could not feel her leg.

'It was deflating'

Hospital doctors confirmed Jo had suffered a stroke and said she had a bleed in her brain from her medication which helped reduce blood clots.

Jo said there was not much she remembered from her two weeks in hospital and "everything was a bit of a blur".

"When I was allowed home, I couldn't go out and do normal things and then I felt like a failure as a mother because I couldn't do the school run and things because of the weakness in my hand," she said.

Jo developed sensory issues after her stroke and anything hot or cold would make her arm seize up. She was also weak on her left side and suffered from extreme fatigue.

Reflecting on Christmas last year, about two months after her stroke, Jo said she felt "deflated" and "uninvolved".

Jo, who was dubbed Miss Christmas by her friends, enjoyed Christmas parties and had seven Christmas trees that she would decorate every year.

She said: "Although I wanted to be a part of Christmas, it was like I didn't want to be. I don't know why. Mentally, it was draining and I was too tired to want to go to things."

The financial burden of having a stroke also affected Jo's usual Christmas plans.

"I was worrying we weren't going to be able to afford the mortgage. I was using a lot more gas because I was cold all the time," she said.

"I just felt more sorry for the kids thinking they would end up having a rubbish time at Christmas. It was deflating."

Jo is looking forward to celebrating her second Christmas after her stroke

According to research by the Stroke Association, almost a third of stroke survivors feel like they are a burden to their family.

Juliet Bouverie OBE, CEO of the association, said: "A stroke can have physical and cognitive impacts, as well as emotional trauma, with survivors facing a long journey to relearn lost skills and adapt to new circumstances.

"But, with strength, determination and the right support, recovery is possible."

Ms Bouverie added: "Stroke support is crucial at any time of year for stroke survivors and their loved ones, but we know we are not reaching everyone who needs help.

"We're encouraging everyone to give the gift of stroke support this Christmas, whether as a donation, volunteering your time or fundraising, so that we can help more survivors and their loved ones find their strength and their way back to life after a stroke."

As Jo's second Christmas post-stroke approaches, she is preparing to get in the festive spirit again.

"At Christmas, you realise that family is more important than anything. The kids didn't get as much that year, but they are old enough to realise that they still had me there," Jo said.

"Looking back on the last year, I feel sad, but fortunate. This year, I'm just looking forward to quality family time.

"I'm one of these people who just won't let anything stop me, especially at this time of year."

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