He Never Spoke Again: A Family’s Wake-Up Call About Stroke

What began as a typical evening in October 2020 turned into a life-altering moment for Lydia and her family. Her husband, recently discharged from the hospital after treatment for pneumonia, began making strange sounds in his sleep. She sensed something was wrong, but help was out of reach.

"It was during the COVID-19 lockdown," Lydia recalls. "There were no vehicles available to rush him to the hospital that night. I had to wait until morning."

By the time they reached the hospital and a CT scan was performed, it was too late. Her husband had suffered a severe stroke, robbing him of his ability to speak. Once a confident and eloquent man, he could no longer utter a word.

A Slow Decline

Lydia's husband was diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension in 2014. Initially, he followed medical advice diligently, but over time, he became inconsistent with his medication, taking it only when he felt unwell.

"We didn't realize how dangerous that was," Lydia says. "We thought if he looked fine, he was fine."

In October 2020, he complained of chest pains. A hospital check-up confirmed pneumonia, and after a few days of treatment, he was discharged. However, something more serious was brewing beneath the surface.

A clot had formed in his brain, a silent killer triggered by an undetected heart attack. The resulting stroke left him permanently disabled.

"He lost his speech completely," Lydia says. "To this day, he hasn't spoken a word. It's heartbreaking to see someone who was once a great speaker become completely silent."

Stroke: A Silent Threat

According to Dr. Edwin Mogere, a Consultant Neurosurgeon at Aga Khan University Hospital, stroke cases are on the rise in Kenya. He attributes this increase to sedentary lifestyles, poor diets, and low awareness of warning signs.

Dr Edwin Mogere, Assistant professor and consultant Neurosurgeon department of surgery during an interview on March 8, 2022, at Aga Khan university hospital, in Nairobi. [Edward Kiplimo,Standard]

"Many people rely on fast food, engage in little or no exercise, and ignore early symptoms. This is a dangerous combination, especially for those with underlying conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes," Dr. Mogere explains.

He clarifies that strokes occur when the brain's blood supply is cut off, either by a clot (ischemic stroke) or bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke). Without oxygen, brain cells begin to die within minutes.

The key to preventing long-term damage, he says, lies in early diagnosis and rapid treatment.

"Thrombolytic drugs and mechanical removal of clots are very effective," he states. "But they must be administered within the first few hours of the stroke. After that, the chances of recovery decrease sharply."

A New Life, A New Struggle

Lydia's family was not so fortunate. The delay in obtaining emergency help meant her husband missed that crucial window of time. Since then, their lives have changed dramatically.

"Everything we knew about family life had to change," Mical, Lydia's daughter, says. "We had to learn how to live with disability."

Emotionally and financially, the family has been stretched thin. Therapy, caregiving, and everyday responsibilities have become overwhelming. Yet Lydia remains hopeful.

"I've accepted the new reality," she says. "But I wish we had acted faster. I wish we had taken his medication routine more seriously."

Lessons and Warnings

Dr. Mogere highlights that one of the biggest challenges in stroke care is late hospital arrival, as many individuals dismiss early symptoms or depend on home remedies.

He urges the public to recognize the warning signs: sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body, difficulty speaking or understanding speech, sudden vision problems, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, and a sudden, severe headache with no known cause.

"When you observe any of these signs, treat it as an emergency," he advises. "Even if the person seems to recover quickly, they must still go to the hospital immediately."

Raising Awareness

Today, Lydia shares her story not to elicit sympathy but to raise awareness.

"I want people to take their health seriously," she says. "Don't skip medication. Don't wait for symptoms to worsen. And please, go for regular check-ups."

Her family's story is one of pain, but also of resilience, reflection, and a plea for prevention.

"We may never hear his voice again," she says quietly. "But if our story can help someone else avoid the same fate, then perhaps something good can come from all this."