Andy Shaw, a 61-year-old former soldier and police officer, woke on Christmas Day 2022 unable to move the left side of his body after suffering a life-threatening stroke. Now, three years on, he is preparing to walk 3km to raise money for Stockport NHS Charity.
Stroke on Christmas morning
Andy, who spent 25 years in the police force, had gone to bed on Christmas Eve after developing a headache. He said: "I went to bed and waited for Santa, but then at 2am, I woke up to go to the toilet and collapsed."
As he fell, he pulled the duvet off the bed, waking his wife Bernadette, who called an ambulance. He was taken to Salford Royal Hospital, where he underwent surgery to remove the blood clot in his brain. However, doctors told Bernadette the clot was too big to remove and that another operation would be needed to remove part of Andy's skull to release pressure on his brain, warning he was likely to be severely disabled.
Recovery at Stepping Hill Hospital
A few weeks later, Andy was transferred to Stepping Hill Hospital, where he continued his recovery on the E1 stroke ward at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust. When he first arrived, he could barely talk, was missing part of his skull, and was unable to walk. He spent four months on the ward receiving clinical care and rehabilitation.
Andy praised the staff, saying: "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." 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 on the ward garden on nice days."
Preparing for the charity walk
Three years on, Andy can get himself up and dressed, communicate with his wife and family, and spend time with his grandchildren. He is now training with his walking group and a personal trainer who specialises in working with stroke survivors. He said: "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."
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!"
Andy's family and friends are expected to join him on the walk, alongside staff who cared for him. His fundraiser has already raised £1,500, three times his original £500 target. Andy said: "I want people to know that I'm working hard and I'm going to do it. 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."
