A stroke survivor has told how hearing a fellow patient’s experience of the potentially fatal condition, helped to save her life.

Fiona Meagher, 54, asked her husband and son to call an ambulance when her arm went weak while reaching to a cupboard at home.

The Meath-based mum said a radio interview about another stroke survivor’s symptoms just weeks earlier, saved her.

“Usually I would never be like that – I said to my husband and son, I’m having a stroke, call an ambulance,” said Fiona.

“But that was only because I listened to Meaghan O’Brien’s story. I would never have done that otherwise.

“My son, Darradh, who is 16 and was in Transition Year, had done a F.A.S.T. (face, arm, speech and time) course two days before in school.

The terrifying incident happened at her home in Ashbourne shortly before Christmas last year.

Weeks earlier, Fiona had heard fellow Irish Heart Foundation Patient Champion, Meaghan O’Brien, talking about her own stroke during a radio interview about the charity’s Patient Champions Programme.

The programme aims to train patients with cardiovascular disease to lobby for better supports for their fellow patients at political level, speak publicly and in the media, and build local support networks.

Having been diagnosed with heart failure in 2019, Fiona completed the programme in 2023 and has graduated along with 30 others as Patient Champions.

She has since used her voice as a Patient Champion in Brussels, where AI in heart treatments was discussed, on heart failure in Dáil Éireann, and has spoken in schools and at various events for patients and the public.

Tests revealed Fiona had a hole in her heart, which a clot had passed through, causing the stroke.

She was discharged from hospital on December 22.

“I came home and life got back to normal, I was straight into doing the food shop for Christmas on the way home,” she said.

Fiona is encouraging other stroke and heart patients to turn to the Irish Heart Foundation for support and to consider joining their Patient Champions programme.

“Availing of the Irish Heart Foundation support services really helped me with my recovery so I wanted to give something back.”

The Advocacy Campaign Manager with the Irish Heart Foundation described people like Fiona as the unsung heroes of the organisation.

“The Patient Champions are a terrific addition to the Irish Heart Foundation’s advocacy capability,” said Pauline O’Shea.

Patient Champions work with the organisation to not only achieve advancements in areas of cardiovascular care, but also in the other areas of life affected by a diagnosis, including their economic, psychological and social wellbeing, often also severely challenged by a diagnosis.

“We are now recruiting for our Patient Champions Programme in 2025, and we welcome heart and stroke patients from all over Ireland to apply. It’s free, online and open to heart and stroke patients in any part of the country. It’s a great opportunity for heart patients and stroke survivors to utilise their existing skills, develop some new skills and have connection and support from their peers and the organisation, which can help improve the wellbeing of patients after a heart or stroke event.”

If you would like to become a Patient Champion, please call Pauline on 087 3810726 or email ihfvolunteer@irishheart.ie