So I genuinely believed my world ended when I had my stroke, which I now realise was absolutely wrong and it just changed.
Anyhow I recently did an interview for a podcast and this is the result Gareth Cairns–Stroke Stories – Apple Podcasts
Big massive thanks to @SimonInEdinburgh for his encouragement and his kindness
WOW You were awesome and I understood about 90% of what you said. It would probably have been 100% if it wasn’t for your accent:rofl:
How did you manage to say so much, did you have it written down?
I speak pretty clear now, still slurr like a drunk when tired. But one issue still is breathing and remembering when/where to take a breath. If I said as much as you did in that podcast I’d probably pass out from lack of breath😅
Well done, keep it up 6 months from now your speech will be virtually back to normal again. So don’t let it hold you back 
Lorraine
Stroke Improvement Group
@garethc970 amazing Gareth that’s a fantastic achievement. I’m so pleased you have realised that there is life after stroke…maybe a hit different but can still ve good.
Well done again.
Ann
Hi Gareth, Wow that’s an amazing achievement You must be so proud of yourself and I’m sure your family are too . I understood the majority of what you said.
Stroke turns your life upside down and it’s a long tough road to recovery but you’ve definitely made an amazing start, so well done again .
Life after stroke is definitely different but it can still be a good life and with the help of our friends and families it’s Onwards and Upwards.
Keep on keeping on and the world is your oyster 
Best wishes and thank you for sharing.
Sue
Stroke Improvement Group
Amazing achievement @garethc970. I’ve just had a listen, you should be extremely proud of yourself!
Anna
What you saying about my mackem (wearside) accent? Just kidding! thanks for your kind words but yeah by about 8pm or so I sound like I’ve been on the pints, makes tale end of a late shift finishing at 8:30pm fun
Absolutely blown away indeed you should be proud
You sound perfect Gareth. I can’t speak after my aneurysm (burst blood vessel) but I don’t know if the stroke or the trachiostomy took my voice. I’ve been able to say, ‘HI’and some basic vowel sounds. My youngest daughter is best at getting me to speak and I’ve even said Ok’ to her. ’
Try doing a lot of daily reading out loud to get the vocals working again. I still have mild aphasia, but when I had my stroke I couldn’t talk at all. As it returned it came out as garbled sounds. It was as that point that I started reading aloud, anything from shopping lists, text messages, books and magazines. I did this daily and didn’t give two hoots who heard…my family are so patient putting up with my attempts at speech 
But, I got there in the end, and so can you!
Lorraine
Thank you Lorraine, I really appreciate your encouragement and positivity.
I’d echo what Lorraine has said. Juat keep trying to speak out loud. It may sound weird to start with but slowly it should start to get better.
Good luck.
Ann
Having family has saved me, I’m alive. 15% of people with a ruptured aneurysm die before reaching the hospital. I fought against all ods. Then survived brain surgery to stem the bleeding and have part of my skull removed to relieve the pressure. But sadly the implant became infected and had to be removed. I Became listless and had little cognition, I was in what they call PDoC, but thanks to their visits I started to show some spark of life so I was put forward for a cranioplasty(putting a metal sheet in my brain where the skull fragment was. I was given a 1 in 6 chance of survival. and here i am unable to talk, walk and eat. But alive. I’m so very grateful to be a part of this community and often think of all the people who should be here too, but didn’t make it. Well done for pulling through and being here to read this!
Well done Michelle - and well done to your family.
I am not sure what it is that gets us where we are today and why some make it and some don’t, but it is something I see repeated in all walks of life. For example, when I was at school in a class of 30 who would have thought where we all ended up would be where we all ended up?
Predictions are made at these stages when teachers might say we expect ManjiB to achieve this or that and Mich-mm will likely achieve this or that and then as time progresses some of these predictions com true and others do not. Some exceed expectations, others fail miserably. Even when given the same opportunities, different outcomes are achieved and does anyone know why?
So here you are, happy to be alive and being a part of this community and there may be others wondering why they are still here (hopefully not many).
With odds of 1 in 6 for survival you made it - I have no idea what other odds you have been given about talking, walking and eating but I can tell you, and this is my belief with no scientific or medical backing whatsoever, you can achieve what you set your mind to. It is not easy and you already know that, but why take the easy option?
We all have a choice and in the end we achieve what we can. Some of us will try very hard and still struggle, but will never give up. Others will not necessarily try very hard but they will succeed and they may be happy with their lot and not aim for me.
I am pleased you are here and pleased you are looking forward to what you can achieve.
Take care.
Thank you so much for your warm and kind message @ManjiB
I’m very excited by the fact I’ve been eating yoghurt everyday for the last 2weeks.i probably hold the yoghurt in my mouth for too long before a swallow kicks in.but the joy and elation I get from eating again is indescribable❣️
Oh that must be a great joy for you. Hopefully it’ll get better & in time you can add some different foods. Keep going improvements are happening by the sounds of it.
That’s really lovely Michelle.
It’s so pleasing when something like this happens, especially when we have been led to believe that these sort of things may/will not happen and we have to accept as this is the best it’s going to get.
I am so pleased for you and I can share the excitement because my Mum has been nil-by-mouth since her stroke over six years ago. After a few failed attempts by the SaLT (Speech and Language Therapist) to try and get Mum to drink some water, we were told to carry on trying to get her to drink and if / when she does to contact the SaLT. That was about six years ago and whilst we had the odd occasion when Mum nearly took a sip, she never actually got beyond the smallest of sips.
About a month ago (18 May to be precise) I offered her some water and she took a sip from the tablespoon. I offered some more and she had that too. Total and utter joy as she had a few more sips. The fact that half of it spilt down her chin was not a problem - I’ve seen babies eat and drink 
Next day we repeated and same result, so we did it again and then again. Still no refusal and signs of enjoyment as taste buds start working or the anticipation or whatever.
So how about adding some flavour? Fruit cordial was her favourite drink and so we gave her some of that and by golly she lit up with the taste memory coming back. She had a cuplet (25 ml) of that and enjoyed it. Not wishing to overdo things and not wanting to disturb her finely tuned body chemistry (sugar levels, etc) we held back on the cordial and only offered it every other day.
Well as at today, she has continued to drink the water by mouth and for us this has been a huge milestone tick because being nil-by-mouth she is on a PEG feed. The PEG has been in-situ for six years and this is not at all normal. Her gastro consultant has already once refused to replace the PEG which has now become a “buried bumper” and so for us, it is a massive relief to know we may be able to feed her and give her drinks by mouth when she tells us she’s ready and this she does in her own time and her own way.
So yes, we totally understand the joy and elation you get from eating your yoghurt.
Enjoy
Thank you so much for the warmth and encouragement.I’ve had a PEG for 5 years so I completely understand. When i was at the rehab hospital RHN. I had a SALT who gave me biozoon. Bubbles blown through a liquid and then put on the tongue to allow you to taste. I had coffee and squash like you say both were heaven as I was a devout coffee drinker before the stroke.