Lisa Kenny, from Balbriggan in Co. Dublin, experienced a stroke in 2019, four days after bringing her new baby home.
The now 42-year-old was in her fiancé Paul’s mam’s house on Oct 9th after a shopping trip and was making some tea in the kitchen. After having a headache during the day, but thinking it was normal, she lost the feeling in her arm and leg on the right side, and her face began to droop. Her fiancé, Paul, and his mam, Dee, came to her aid and called an ambulance immediately.
After numerous tests, including a brain scan, it was confirmed that Lisa had experienced a haemorrhagic stroke.
Lisa said that during her pregnancy, things felt normal, and no problems arose at any of her hospital appointments over the previous 9 months. On October 4th, Alfie was born, and they were now a family of four. The stroke was a big shock to her.
Lisa underwent brain surgery two days later and also required a second brain surgery, two months later, to replace her skull bone. She was cared for in the ICU initially and was then transferred to the High Dependency Unit.
It was a devastating time for Lisa and her family, as Lisa explains, she couldn’t stop crying.
"During that time, it was very tough because as a result of my stroke, I had aphasia, a language disorder, so I had no speech."
“I was learning how to walk. I do not remember my stroke or how long I was in the hospital for.”
Her recovery was complicated due to her contracting pneumonia and experiencing a seizure. She was then moved to the rehabilitation ward. “I had to work with an Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, and a Speech and Language Therapist.”
Lisa was then moved to the National Rehabilitation Hospital, where Paul, children, family and friends regularly visited her. “I loved having them visit me.” But this was temporary, as Covid hit very soon afterwards.
“Life at the National Rehabilitation Hospital was really hard because I had no speech, and it was really hurtful; I could not see my friends, family, children or Paul anymore. During the 7-month stay, Lisa underwent intense therapy, but receiving post from her family and friends was something to look forward to.
A main goal Lisa had when in the hospital was to begin walking again and get out of the wheelchair. “I was determined to get out of the wheelchair. And I did it!”
Lisa was delighted to be discharged from hospital after 7 months and said: “Now, I want to live my life”, before going home to her two children, Emily and Alfie, fiancé Paul.
When being discharged from the hospital, Lisa faced further challenges. “We had a 3-story house, so stairs were difficult. I had a lot of stairs to get to my bedroom – it was mayhem. Then Paul went back to work, so we moved in with my mam and dad, who were very supportive. I also stopped working as a retail manager with a large retail group.”
Lisa uses a number of Irish Heart Foundation supports for her stroke and aphasia. These include the Young Stroke Survivors Network, the Life after Stroke private Facebook group, and the Aphasia-Friendly Café. She also took part in a pilot programme, ‘What’s the Story?’, which meant so much to her, being able to write a poem and work with a group. Lisa is also part of the Irish Heart Foundation’s Rhythm of Recovery Choir.
"My singing is not perfect, but I like it because it’s something my aphasia doesn’t stop me from doing."
“My favourite song is Oasis, ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’, and I’m going to see them in Croke Park in August.”
Lisa continues to live with aphasia, which she describes as having “trouble with reading, writing, comprehension and talking. Now, I’m okay with speaking and talking, it’s 50/50. I have gotten back to normal texting, which is huge for my communication”.
Now, some of Lisa’s goals include Comprehension, Reading, Maths, National Adult Literacy Agency, Aphasia Life After Stroke, Tues Treats Cooking, and Virtual Connections.
“I continue to push and challenge myself. And just staying positive, you can do it!”
2025-06-20
