Mayo stroke patient issues timely warning
By Patrick Hennelly
A MAYO man has spoken about his experience of having a stroke to mark World Stroke Day, an advocacy day which aims to underline the serious nature and high rates of stroke, increase public awareness of risk factors, and advocate for better care and support for survivors.
In Ireland, roughly 7,599 people experience a stroke each year, and 90,000 survivors live with long term effects.
Ballinrobe resident Gerry Walsh suffered a stroke in September 2024. There were no warning signs, he said, in the lead up to the stroke.
“The stroke was out of the blue. It happened on a Saturday morning, and when I got out of bed I just stumbled and I had to sit back down on the bed again, and I thought nothing of it. Then I went to the bathroom, and I stumbled once again, and just about made it back to my bed, and it was then that I realised I was suffering a stroke.
“There were no telltale signs in the previous few days, and I was just leading a normal life,” he explained.
People are always reminded to act FAST when a stroke occurs and Gerry was rushed to Mayo University Hospital, which was a very worrying time for his wife and family.
“The ambulance was called, and they arrived very quickly, and I was brought straight to Mayo University Hospital. I was two weeks in Mayo General and then after that I was three months in the Sacred Heart Hospital for my rehabilitation.
“I had to receive physio to help me walk again, and I also needed physio for my arm as I had no feeling in my right arm. I eventually got back to walking again within a couple of months.
“The fatigue side of the stroke is one of the hardest things to endure and I found that I got tired very fast.
“The Sacred Heart Hospital was amazing, and it would have to be up there with the national rehabilitation unit in Dublin.”
After being discharged from the Sacred Heart Hospital, Gerry’s long road to recovery continued.
“After I was discharged from the Sacred Heart Hospital there was a follow up programme that I had to undergo. I then had to go back to the Sacred Heart Hospital in March 2025 for two weeks of rehab and that was a great service and really helped me as well.”
Quest Brain Injury Services, based in Galway city, is a community rehabilitative service, and also provides support for people who have suffered a stroke. Gerry said the support he received from both Croí and Quest was of great benefit to him.
“During rehab my occupational therapist, Anne Munnelly, got me in touch with Croí and also made an application for me to join Quest in Galway.
“Quest was amazing and we used to meet twice a week in Galway. Both Croí and Quest provided great support, and they played a key part of my rehabilitation.”
Gerry would someday like to see a similar support such as Quest available in Mayo.
“It would be great to have something similar to Quest based in Mayo and to have that support base in the county. The travelling to and from Galway can be hard.
“It is nice to meet people in Quest and just to have a chat with them and see how their rehabilitation is going.
“Also, there is physio once a month in Mayo University Hospital, which is great, and my wife helped me get into that programme. It is good to get that extra bit of physio, to have that support base, and hear how other people are recovering from their own strokes and know that you are not alone.”
Roundfort native Gerry is enjoying getting back to a normal routine and he said that running a farm has helped his recovery.
“The farming has helped me get back into a normal routine once again and has also helped me physically. The physio doesn’t end when you leave the Sacred Heart Hospital. I still have to go the Mayo General Hospital for physio once a month and they have a programme of exercises that I have to undergo. The staff at Mayo General are tremendous and I couldn’t speak highly enough of them.”
With World Stroke Day taking place last Thursday, Gerry said that people need to be mindful of the signs of a stroke and to keep a regular check on their blood pressure and cholesterol.
“High blood pressure would be one of the main causes of stroke, and also stress. It is important that people keep an eye on their blood pressure and cholesterol.
“Some people might suffer a stroke and there are no obvious signs, but they will feel that something is not right, and people need to be aware of those dangers.”