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'Music helped me recover from stroke' | 'Music helped me recover from stroke' |
(about 15 hours later) | |
By Jane Elliott Health reporter, BBC News | By Jane Elliott Health reporter, BBC News |
Cyril was given his award by Honor BlackmanJust four days after his wife's funeral following her death from a stroke, Cyril Merle had a massive stroke himself. | Cyril was given his award by Honor BlackmanJust four days after his wife's funeral following her death from a stroke, Cyril Merle had a massive stroke himself. |
The 86-year-old was paralysed down the left side of his body and had difficulty speaking and eating. | The 86-year-old was paralysed down the left side of his body and had difficulty speaking and eating. |
He needed daily physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and gym workouts during the nine months he spent recovering in his local hospital in Horsham, West Sussex, before being allowed home. | He needed daily physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and gym workouts during the nine months he spent recovering in his local hospital in Horsham, West Sussex, before being allowed home. |
Now - aged 91 - Cyril is fully recovered and able to do even more than he was before the stroke. He credits his love of music for helping speed up his recovery. | |
Keeping the brain active | Keeping the brain active |
He says music acted as a strong motivating force to getting mobile again. | He says music acted as a strong motivating force to getting mobile again. |
And he started tea dancing even though he had preciously been described as a "rotten dancer" by his wife. He says that now he dances better than he walks. | And he started tea dancing even though he had preciously been described as a "rotten dancer" by his wife. He says that now he dances better than he walks. |
I would tell anyone else who has had a stroke like me to get involved with music Cyril Merle | I would tell anyone else who has had a stroke like me to get involved with music Cyril Merle |
Cyril also took up playing the keyboard, after 30 years of not playing, and says this has helped keep his mind active and given him a motivation to keep active. | Cyril also took up playing the keyboard, after 30 years of not playing, and says this has helped keep his mind active and given him a motivation to keep active. |
He even plays at sing-songs for other residents in the ex-service personnel home where he now lives. | He even plays at sing-songs for other residents in the ex-service personnel home where he now lives. |
"When I had the stroke I could not even stand," he said. | "When I had the stroke I could not even stand," he said. |
"Now I can do everything I could before and even more so. | "Now I can do everything I could before and even more so. |
"I think the music helped me. I can dance better than I can walk," he said. | "I think the music helped me. I can dance better than I can walk," he said. |
"I would tell anyone else who has had a stroke like me, to get involved with music." | "I would tell anyone else who has had a stroke like me, to get involved with music." |
Cyril has been rewarded for his efforts by the Stroke Association, who gave him the over-65s prize in their annual awards. | Cyril has been rewarded for his efforts by the Stroke Association, who gave him the over-65s prize in their annual awards. |
Getting fitter | Getting fitter |
Pam Simpson, activities co-ordinator at the home where he now lives, said Cyril had shown great fortitude. | Pam Simpson, activities co-ordinator at the home where he now lives, said Cyril had shown great fortitude. |
"He made good progress after his stroke and after two months was able to walk with a belt round his waist and held by his physios. | "He made good progress after his stroke and after two months was able to walk with a belt round his waist and held by his physios. |
"He did not rely on a stick or a zimmer frame - just his absolute determination to get back his mobility and independence. | "He did not rely on a stick or a zimmer frame - just his absolute determination to get back his mobility and independence. |
Worthy winner | Worthy winner |
Jon Barrick, chief executive at the Stroke Association said; "Stroke can affect anyone at any age, and also has an impact on families, carers and health care professionals. | Jon Barrick, chief executive at the Stroke Association said; "Stroke can affect anyone at any age, and also has an impact on families, carers and health care professionals. |
"Cyril has shown tremendous courage in rebuilding his life after a stroke." | "Cyril has shown tremendous courage in rebuilding his life after a stroke." |
Occupational therapy can aid stroke recovery | Occupational therapy can aid stroke recovery |
Around a million people in the UK are living with the effects of stroke. | Around a million people in the UK are living with the effects of stroke. |
Dr Anthony Rudd, a stroke expert at King's College, London, said that although age was not necessarily a factor in how well a person recovered, that the older the patient the more likely it was that they have additional medical problems. | Dr Anthony Rudd, a stroke expert at King's College, London, said that although age was not necessarily a factor in how well a person recovered, that the older the patient the more likely it was that they have additional medical problems. |
"What is important is that older people often have other medical problems such as arthritis and cognitive problems that makes it more difficult for them to get going again. | "What is important is that older people often have other medical problems such as arthritis and cognitive problems that makes it more difficult for them to get going again. |
"We do see recoveries like this very regularly, but they do require a lot of hard work and - to a large extent - luck in terms of how much brain damage there was caused by the stroke." | "We do see recoveries like this very regularly, but they do require a lot of hard work and - to a large extent - luck in terms of how much brain damage there was caused by the stroke." |
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