Lisa was just 35 years old when she had a stroke in 2013. She was at her goddaughter’s Holy Communion, when she hurt her knee. She went to South West Acute Hospital, and was treated for twisting her knee but when she was leaving casualty, she says she suddenly ‘went down like a tonne of bricks.

“At the time, they didn’t know that it was actually a stroke. The doctors at South West acute Hospital acted very quickly and Dr Kelly and his staff were brilliant. The support we received has been excellent. The nurses, physio and occupational therapists were excellent and kept me informed of what was going on at all times,” said Lisa.

Now Lisa, who is married to Nigel and has three sons, Ryan (14), Calum, (12) and Orin (7), wants to ‘give something back’ to the people who helped save her life and recently her and her family helped host a fundraising dance in Coa Hall and raised £3,045 for the Stroke ward and presented it to the hospital last Tuesday. 

“It is my way of saying thank you for everything that they have done. They saved my life and looked after me so well. I don’t think people realise how quickly it can land on your doorstep – I was very young and I wasn’t sick or ill. It was a huge shock to my family as we had no warning.”

At South West Acute Hospital, there are concerns that it is only a matter of time before the Stroke Unit closes. Lisa told the Herald how time is the most important thing when it comes to a stroke, and this service should be kept in Enniskillen.

“I think if I had to go to Derry or Belfast for treatment things would have been so much different for me. We have an excellent ward, and an excellent group of people in the hospital and to think that they want to take it away is very disappointing. The stroke unit is vital in Fermanagh, and it is an excellent service and it shouldn’t be taken away.”