Niamh Foster, now 28, experienced a large ischaemic stroke and 10 mini-strokes at the age of 26. Despite having no family history of the condition, she initially attributed symptoms like headaches and fatigue to stress.
Doctors later identified a hole in her heart as the cause, leading to heart surgery approximately seven months after her stroke. Foster spent 10 days in hospital and has since focused on her recovery, which included re-learning to walk and talk.
Foster continues to live with fatigue, memory difficulties, and aphasia, a language and communication disorder. She now works for The Stroke Association, supporting others with communication difficulties after a stroke.
The charity Different Strokes, which supports young stroke survivors, states that over 100,000 people in the UK have a stroke or mini-stroke each year. While most strokes affect those over 65, one in four occur in younger individuals, amounting to nearly 40,000 people annually, including several hundred children.