Steve, from Yeovil in Somerset, was a fit and healthy 36-year-old. Happily married and a dad-of-one, he played football, was training to run a marathon, and had one huge passion in life: gaming.

But Steve’s life changed completely one morning when he woke up with what he realised were the warning signs of a stroke. His right hand felt numb, and the feeling didn’t return. Steve’s stroke left him unable to walk or speak.

With years of hard work and determination, Steve has regained his speech and some of his mobility. He continues to battle fatigue, memory problems and right-sided weakness in his arm and leg, which makes everyday tasks challenging.

“Stroke is like a nightmare that you live. It stays with you. My arm and leg mobility can improve, but it can’t get better. As much as people smile on the outside, stroke is always there.”

“It was devastating and to make it worse, my husband Stephen had to make the decision as I couldn’t communicate at all. I remember one of the nurses saying, ‘you’re a fighter Julie and you have to carry on fighting for your kids’. I knew I had to carry on for the three of them.”

Never giving up

Steve’s passion for gaming has been his motivation to come back from stroke. But his weakness in his right hand means that he can’t play games the way he used to. So Steve has developed his own way to use a games controller with his stronger left hand, as well as his chin and lips.

Steve and his family have also received support from the Stroke Association.

“They talked me through some of the questions I had. It was a lifeline to be able to talk to someone else who understood.”