Nathan Kennedy, a 19-year-old from Sunderland, has spoken out about the devastating impact of his mother Julie's stroke, which left her paralysed and unable to walk or speak. Julie, 51, suffered a stroke in 2018 when Nathan was just 11 years old.
Stroke and Hospitalisation
After being admitted to Sunderland Royal Hospital, Julie's family were told she might not survive the weekend due to the amount of blood in her brain. She defied predictions but spent months on a ventilator at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was moved to a nursing home, where her family could only wave through a window when visiting.
Almost eight years on, Julie is back at home but requires round-the-clock care and is unlikely to walk again. Her husband Nigel is now her full-time carer. Nathan, the second-youngest of five children, described the years since his mother's stroke as devastating and challenging for the family.
Emotional Impact on Family
Nathan told ChronicleLive: "When it happened it was absolutely devastating. My mum was the closest person in the family for me. Now when I spend time with her, even though she's not in hospital, every time I see her is a reminder of what happened." Despite the challenges, Nathan and his mother remain close. He said: "We couldn't have asked for a better mum. She used to volunteer at the youth centre and take care of all of us. It's hard to describe, you become a lot closer with her but it's a lot different than it was."
He added that the stroke has left "long-lasting emotional damage" on each family member. In a family "almost entirely made up of lads," it has been difficult to talk about at times. His sister Chloe, ten years his senior, became like a "second mum," while his father Nigel had to come to terms with his wife's illness while still looking after five children. Nathan praised his father: "My dad has been an absolute diamond, one in a million."
Ultramarathon Fundraiser
On July 4 and 5, Nathan will take on a 100-mile ultramarathon in the Peak District to raise awareness of the devastating impacts of strokes and to raise £1,000 for the Stroke Association. He said: "We're both aware I'm going out of my way just because of what she's been through. I think that's the part that will make her smile, I'm guessing she'll be dead proud. I can go through the pain and torture of an ultramarathon to spread awareness of what the Stroke Association is about and how it can affect people and their families."
Nathan emphasised: "We are very lucky that my mam is still here, but no one really understands how incredibly challenging the aftermath of a stroke can be; physically, emotionally and mentally; until they live it themselves. Bad things happen and you've got to smile through it. You have got to make the best of a bad situation."
Stroke Association Support
Sam Jones, associate director for the North East at the Stroke Association, said: "On behalf of everyone at the charity we want to say a huge thank you to Nathan for raising funds for the Stroke Association with his ultramarathon – what a fantastic tribute to his Mum! Every day this month, another 240 people will wake up to the life-changing impact of a stroke. It's a traumatic, life-changing event that robs survivors and their families of the life they knew. When that happens, we're here with stroke support for every survivor and their loved ones, for however long it takes – but we can only do that with the generous support of people like Nathan. We're all wishing him the best of luck for his ultramarathon!"
