Heather Beare
My name is Heather Beare and I am now retired. I was the Financial Controller of Community Houses Out West, Parent Aid, Glen Eden Protection Society and Waikumete Cemetery.
Next year on the 5th February I will have been married to Bill for 40 years. On the 17th October 2009 at 1.30am I had a massive Stroke. Bill called 111 and within half an hour I was in the North Shore Hospital Emergency Ward. At that time the doctors told Bill I had had a massive stroke and that if there was no change within 24-36 hours I would be like this for the rest of her life - I couldn't move any limbs or talk . Thankfully, within 12 hours I was moving and saying Yes/No.
I stayed 10 days in North Shore Hospital and then moved to Waitakere Hospital for 6 weeks for rehabilitation. At the Waitakere hospital I had physio and speech therapy. I improved greatly and got to the stage where they couldn't do much more for me, so I went to Arran Court Rest Home.
I stayed there for 4 weeks and then moved closer to home and family to Terence Kennedy House at Oratia where I still am.
Whilst in this House we heard from my sister about Conductive Education at Tui Glen. Eventually getting here I have improved greatly and now I come twice a week to this wonderful place. Without this, I don't know what I would have done.
And now after all this time I am leaving the Rest Home and returning to my own home and will continue coming twice a week to Tui Glen.
The people here are wonderful people. They have helped me so much and my husband as well. We are very grateful.
