My story
Hello and thanks for dropping by!
My name is Julie and five years ago I became a stroke survivor. I am now passionate about stroke recovery and rehabilitation and committed to making a difference for stroke survivors.
Originally from far west NSW, I qualified as a Social Worker in Melbourne in 1983. After three years working at the pointy end in heroin era St Kilda, my career took me into policy, research and then management roles in health, community services, local government, housing and community aged and disability services. I also got married and had a daughter (now grown up and a child psychologist)
Later, when I was a sole parent and my daughter was at school, I ran a consultancy working with health, disability, aged care and community services. I helped organisations with governance, evaluation, quality improvement and starting new services. While studying again for a Master of Management, I became the primary carer for my mum who had brain tumours and suffered a stroke, caring for her at home until she passed away.
Over the last twenty years I have been a senior executive in health and community services – and I’ve loved it! The days when you see staff morale turn around and people start looking hopeful; or when you get positive comments from consumers; or when you can provide more rather than less are an absolute buzz!
There’s more to life than work of course and I love music, going to live music gigs, reading books and talking about them, walking our two dogs, live theatre and spending time in nature. I enjoy many of these with the help of my wonderful second husband Peter, who conveniently likes most of the same things!
In 2015 when I was only 55 years old and enjoying a new role as CEO of a large primary health service, my life was traumatically interrupted by experiencing multiple brain stem strokes in one night. These left me densely paralysed down my left side and unable to swallow, see properly, speak, sit, stand and walk. I was totally devastated.
Not in the plan! Not in anyone’s plan.
There’s more to this story, I’ll tell you below
In the now: on the other side of Stroke
Being a CEO, then next day a ‘patient’ then later a ‘stroke survivor’ is quite a transition.
Friends of mine who’ve had a stroke call life after stroke “your bonus round” and that’s accurate. You nearly died, then you must create a new life and a new identity!
Stroke strips you of almost everything but it does make you very clear about what and who you value!
After spending two months in hospital doing rehabilitation 4-6 hours a day six days a week, I could stand and then sit in a chair without falling off. I could swallow most foods and I could talk again (except when I was tired) and my sight was getting better.
Six days after I had arrived at the rehab unit three crazy physios held me in standing position and started manually moving my legs as if I was walking. Neuroplasticity kicked in and four weeks later I could walk (in a fashion) with a stick.
Two years of outpatient neurological rehabilitation followed, first three days a week, then two.
There was swearing, tears, rebellion, acquiescence, grief, hard work and learning. There was the support of amazing health professionals and of other survivors of the trauma that is stroke.
Friendships formed at a time when a smile or a word of encouragement means heaps.
There was also the realisation that I wouldn’t be able to go back to my job or work full time again.
What was my purpose in the world outside of family and home now? What could I offer?
I chose the by-line to my blog ‘creating your best life after stroke’ because this blog is another step in the evolution of my purpose in my ‘bonus round’.
Since 2017 I have been using what I know and care about: health, social justice, inequality, consumer engagement, disability rights and leadership in consumer forums, as a member of the Stroke Foundation Consumer Council, in government service reviews and advisory groups.
I was finding my ‘why’.
Pure Zeal will be about exploring some of these things with you, I hope you enjoy my writing and join the discussion!