Download Fragment

Thursday, 1 November 2012
Page: 12983

Mr BUCHHOLZ (Wright) (13:54): This week in the parliament I had the opportunity to be present at a function hosted by the National Stroke Foundation. The National Stroke Foundation's objectives were to raise awareness about stroke victims in our community. One of the things I learned is that they do not like being called stroke victims. They are stroke survivors and they are proud survivors.

Present with that group were some people from my electorate up in Queensland, the electorate of Wright, Brian and Wendy Harris. It is a devastating, crippling disease. He was healthy and active, coached a young soccer side and had no early symptoms. He went to bed one night and in the middle of the night he had three seizures, and from that moment onward he has suffered the symptoms of stroke, with the loss of feeling and movement in one arm and down one side. Could you imagine the impact that that has on a family with no early diagnosis?

Stroke does not just reach out and touch the elderly. Brian lives his life and is in his mid- to late-50s. There is also evidence that there are stroke victims as young as 24 years old, like Emma Gee. She said: 'I was offered anti-depressants initially, but I didn't like to take them.' She said:

Life is full of meaning now which once it lacked.

So, please, I encourage those who are interested to learn more about stroke victims, or stroke survivors, to contact www.strokefoundation.com.au, and I commend them.