My dad Don
CLICK HERE to read a letter from Chris Bath to Sunday Night viewers.
Chris Bath presents a very special report on a man named Don.
Devoted husband of almost 50 years to his wife Maureen, Don loves his two daughters and his grandkids. But Don’s life changed forever following a massive stroke in April 2009 – Maureen has been forced to let go of their retirement plans and become her husband’s full-time carer.
This story is deeply personal for Chris Bath, because Don is her father. Growing up, Chris was her father’s daughter – the two were the ‘stirrers’ of the family, a pair who shared a special bond. Now, Bath is going public with her family’s private struggle because she’s furious about the lack of support offered for stroke victims.
Strokes are the second biggest killer in this country and in 2012 alone, they cost us more than five billion dollars, and yet it’s estimated that 80% of strokes are preventable. Bath delivers her wake-up call to the government about the real effect of strokes in this emotional report.
The one upside to her dad’s health struggle? Bath says it’s made her realize just how much her devoted parents truly love one another.
CLICK HERE to download a stroke fact sheet.
CLICK HERE to download a fact sheet on stroke risk information.
Visit the National Stroke Foundation.
Reducing your risk of stroke
There are 6 steps people can take to reduce the risk and the danger of stroke. These are:
1. Know your personal risk factors: high blood pressure, diabetes and high blood cholesterol – Know Your Numbers.
2. Be physically active and exercise regularly.
3. Avoid obesity by keeping to a healthy diet.
4. Limit alcohol consumption.
5. Avoid cigarette smoke. If you smoke, seek help to stop now.
6. Learn to recognise the warning signs of a stroke and act FAST.
Also featured in our report is fellow stroke survivor Peter Coghlan. His book In the Blink of an Eye tells his real life struggle being ‘locked in’ following a stroke. Coghlan started writing the book, only available through Amazon, when he started to be able to move his fingers again.
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