Andy Shaw, a former soldier and police officer, is preparing to walk 3km to raise money for the stroke ward at Stepping Hill Hospital, part of Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, after surviving a life-changing stroke in the early hours of Christmas Day 2022. His fundraising effort, organised through Stockport NHS Charity, has already raised £1,500, surpassing his initial target of £500.
A Sudden Stroke on Christmas Morning
Andy, who was healthy and active before the event, had served in the army and worked as a police officer for 25 years. On Christmas Eve 2022, he developed a severe headache. “I went to bed and waited for Santa,” Andy recalls. “But then at 2am, I woke up to go to the toilet and collapsed.”
As he fell, Andy pulled the duvet off his bed, which luckily woke his wife, Bernadette. She called an ambulance, and Andy was taken to Salford Royal Hospital, where surgeons attempted to remove a blood clot from his brain. The surgery did not go as planned. Doctors told Bernadette that the clot was too large to remove, and a second operation was needed to remove part of Andy’s skull to relieve pressure on his brain. They warned that Andy was likely to be left severely disabled.
Recovery on the E1 Stroke Ward
A few weeks later, Andy was transferred to Stepping Hill Hospital, run by Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, to continue his recovery on the E1 stroke ward. “Everybody was dead nice. The volunteers were brilliant, and every single member of staff took the time to get to know me. I think I was the nurses’ favourite,” Andy jokes.
Bernadette added: “They were brilliant with family too. It was a stressful time, but the staff made it so much easier. They let us order pizzas on a Friday, and we spent lots of time sat out in the ward garden on nice days.” Andy spent four months on the stroke ward. When he first arrived, he could barely talk, was missing half his skull, and could not walk.
A Remarkable Recovery and New Challenge
Thanks to expert clinical care, rehabilitation, support from family and friends, and his own determination, Andy has made a recovery that was never thought possible after his initial prognosis. “When you have a stroke, it’s like your life stops. But coming onto the ward, it’s like it started again,” he says.
Now, three years after being discharged, Andy feels ready to take on a new challenge. “The ward staff were so good to me, I just wanted to do something to give something back,” he explains. “I worked in the public sector for nearly 30 years. It’s easy to criticise, but it’s important to talk about people like me who’ve had good experiences.”
Working with his walking group and a personal trainer who specialises in stroke survivors, Andy has been training for the 3km walk. “Walking outside without a stick, it’s very scary, very wobbly. But my trainer always said he’d get me walking again. And the stroke ward gave me the tools to do it.”
Fundraising Success and Community Support
Bernadette notes the ongoing progress: “It’s hard to see the improvements because they’re so gradual. But even now from this time six months ago, the difference is amazing. We’re three years on and still seeing massive improvements.”
Kate Leadbeater, Stockport NHS charity manager, said: “We’re incredibly grateful that Andy has decided to commit to this challenge for our charity. It’s a testament to the hard work of our incredible staff, who make a difference to patients like Andy every single day. He’s doing an amazing job with his training, and we’ll be rooting for him all the way to the end!”
Around 15 family members and friends are expected to join Andy on the walk, along with staff who cared for him on the stroke ward. “I want people to know that I’m working hard and I’m going to do it,” Andy says. “I’m nervous, I’ll be tired, and I don’t know how long it will take me, but I’m confident I can do it.”
To support Andy’s fundraising challenge, visit www.justgiving.com/page/andyshaw. Stepping Hill Hospital is located in Stockport, Greater Manchester.
