“I staggered round the side of the bed and bumped into the wardrobe” – Lucy’s Story

When Lucy Warren suffered a stroke, at home, in the middle of the night, her partner got her to their local hospital. However, given the nature of her condition, time was critical and she required an air ambulance transfer to Southampton.

A Terrifying Awakening

I knew when I woke up in the middle of the night that something wasn’t right and I couldn’t feel my left leg. I remember an unpleasant tugging sensation around the bottom of the bed and assumed it was my youngest son getting in with us. I rolled over and fell out of bed; something that I haven’t done since a child. I decided to go to the bathroom as I needed the toilet.

A Life-Saving Decision

I staggered round the side of the bed and bumped into the wardrobe and by the time I got to the bathroom, my legs weakened and I couldn’t stand up anymore. I thought it best to lie down on the floor until I felt better. Surprisingly, I didn’t wake up our two children who were asleep in the room next door. However, my banging and crashing around woke up my husband Rich, who came and found me on the floor. Rich got me up and onto the toilet and I explained what had happened. He asked if I wanted him to call an ambulance. I replied by saying no, as if it was silly idea. “Do you want to go to hospital?” and I said no again. “OK, well humour me and call 111” he replied. By saying that, he probably saved my life. I got back into bed and dialled 111 on my phone. I went through what felt like loads of questions until eventually I was sick and couldn’t talk anymore, so I started to write my answers down on the table with a pencil. Rich took over the call from there.

He said he had agreed to call an ambulance, because by then I was writhing around in bed. Time got a bit fuzzy from then on, but I remember him saying, “Dave’s here and we are going to take you downstairs.” I was expecting to see a paramedic but it was a friend and neighbour who had run down the road in torrential rain to come and sit with the children.

A Race Against Time

It turned out that they didn’t wait for an ambulance to arrive, as they thought I needed to get to hospital straight away. Together, they got me down the stairs, one holding my legs and the other hoisting me up under the armpits. I was sick again halfway down the stairs before we reached the dark night air and rain. They managed to get me in the passenger seat of my car and headed for Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester. The journey felt like a fast one, but I couldn’t deal with the bright lights, so I kept my eyes shut until we got there. I opened my eyes to find Rich screeching to a stop outside the glass doors of the emergency department.

The Critical Role of the Air Ambulance

I remember the staff coming to get me, but to this day I couldn’t tell you if I went in on a stretcher or a wheelchair and there is a big gap in my memory between going in the hospital and being loaded into an ambulance. I do remember however, hearing a nurse say ‘time critical’ several times.

Due to my condition, I needed a hospital transfer to Southampton. I was put in an ambulance, which sped through the town to where the air ambulance had landed. It was morning by now and very windy, so I got wrapped in a foil blanket to keep me warm.

Before long, we were up in the air and the sun was streaming through the windows. The crew kept talking to me and I noticed one of them had the same bright blue eyes as Rich.

On arrival at Southampton, I was wheeled to the Stroke Unit, still unable to communicate with anyone.

Facing Life After Stroke

One of the first people to visit me was my big sister Vicky who I hadn’t seen in nearly a year. She was the one who realised I was trying to talk as I was forming letters in the air with my hands. She gave me her phone to write a text, but once again, the effort made me feel sick. Because of where in my brain the stroke happened, it affected my cognitive abilities and decision making, so even asking me a question like do you want a cup of tea was difficult to answer. However, I soon had a pen and paper and was able to write things down and eventually I realised if I whispered, I could get my answers out.

For anyone who has not had a stroke, it must sound like a surreal experience. I don’t think I can appreciate how ill I actually was and my children don’t, thankfully. But to go from a mum who does everything, to a mum laid in a hospital bed with a catheter bag, it must have been quite a shock. However, they took it in their stride and before long, I was back in my local hospital where they could visit me.

Rebuilding in the Aftermath

I had just written and thankfully finished the edits for my debut eco thriller novel, ‘The Poison Balance.’ This experience has made me think of an idea for a children’s book about a sick mum, told from the point of view of an octopus cannula. It could be given out to small children of ill patients, but of course I need to write it first.

With the help of my occupational therapists, doctors and a handy rollator, I was soon back on my feet and able to get rid of the catheter; I felt like a new person straight away. The nurse who had said ‘time critical’ came back to see me and asked if I remembered her. She said that I didn’t say a word when I was first with them, but she knew that I was in there, which meant a lot.

I was allowed home after two weeks. An MRI scan had an incidental discovery of a non-cancerous tumour on my pituitary gland which was causing all sorts of problems with my hormones, severe sleep apnoea, lethargy and an inability to recover quickly from any illness. I was deemed too weak for surgery and put on the waiting list.

Giving Back and Moving Forward

Lucy Warren DSAA book handover

My birthday came round in December and people asked me what I wanted as a present.

I couldn’t think of anything, mainly because I was so grateful to still be here, so I created a birthday fundraiser on Facebook and raised over £400 for DSAA. Subsequently, Rich, the children, our parents and I visited the airbase on an open day. There, I gave the charity a spare copy of my novel, which was published in January, so that they could auction it at an upcoming charity event. Rich is also a keen woodworker and produces bespoke chopping boards, so he donated one too. I always knew that the air ambulance is such a worthy cause, but I never imagined I would use it myself. It felt really good that we could give back to the charity that, in part, saved my life.

Adjusting to a New Normal

And now, I have adapted to the new normal me. I’ve gained confidence in talking to people, but it sometimes takes me a while to explain myself and find the right words. Stroke fatigue is a major bump in the road for me and any admin jobs, even an hour or so, wipe me out.

I had follow-up surgery to remove the tumour in March. Unfortunately, what should have been a two-day stay, ended up in being ten days over the Easter period. Since having a large proportion of my pituitary gland removed, I am getting better slowly. My body is still adjusting, I am being monitored and on quite a concoction of medication. But I’m ok, I’m alive and here for my children and loved ones. I keep up to date with the charity’s news and recently held a ‘Brew for the Crew’ coffee morning with my mum (in part to mark her birthday). It was well attended and raised £495, so we might make it a yearly event from now on.

Help us save more lives

If you’ve been touched by Lucy’s story and would like to support Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, your donation can make a big difference. Every penny helps us continue our life-saving work.

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