Elizabeth's story

Elizabeth was just six years old, when her nana, Carol, had a stroke that massively affected her speech and mobility. Despite the challenges of stroke recovery, Carol was determined to continue being active and present with her whānau.

Carol was 60 when she had a stroke. The night before, the family had been sitting around the table playing cards. Carol developed a severe headache and decided to stop early. She took some Paracetamol and went to bed. Later that night, when Elizabeth’s grandad came into the room, he noticed something wasn’t right. Carol wasn’t talking clearly, and one side of her face was drooping. He recognized the signs of stroke and called an ambulance straight away.

After her stroke, Carol lost all movement on the right side of her body. She had to relearn how to walk, talk, and write using her weaker hand. Her speech was also affected by the stroke, and she struggled to communicate with others.

“She knew what we were talking about. She couldn’t relay the conversation or say what she wanted to say. It was like her brain knew what she wanted to say, but she just couldn’t voice it.”

Recovery took time, patience, and persistence. With the support of her whānau, Carol committed herself to rehabilitation. As Elizabeth grew older, she became more involved in her nana’s recovery journey. As a teenager, she remembers driving Carol to rehab and spending time supporting her through the process.

Carol loved the outdoors and was always keen for a long weekend away, camping and fishing with family. Her family was set on including her. They owned a campervan and a boat and modified them so Carol could continue coming along on adventures. She joined them on many camping and fishing trips all over the lower North Island.

One year, the family went on a cruise to Australia which Elizabeth remembers vividly.

“She was in her element. We’ve got videos of her in a dance-off with all the aunties. They got her up trying to dance on the boat, and she was loving it.”

In May, Elizabeth is running the Hawke’s Bay Half Marathon in her nana’s memory and to raise awareness and donations for Stroke Aotearoa.

Elizabeth was inspired by her nana’s determination to keep doing the things she loved, despite the effects of stroke.

“If I was ever down, or ever upset, or felt like I couldn’t do something, I’ve always thought—if my Nana could do it, obviously I can do it too.”

Elizabeth has a custom-made t-shirt with her Nana’s photo which she plans to wear to carry her nana with her through the race.