A stroke survivor has told how hearing a fellow patient鈥檚 experience of the potentially fatal condition, helped to save her life.
Fiona Meagher, 54, asked her husband and son to call an ambulance when her arm went weak while reaching to a cupboard at home.
The Meath-based mum said a radio interview about another stroke survivor鈥檚 symptoms just weeks earlier, saved her.
鈥淯sually I would never be like that – I said to my husband and son, I鈥檓 having a stroke, call an ambulance,鈥� said Fiona.
鈥淏ut that was only because I listened to Meaghan O鈥橞rien鈥檚 story. I would never have done that otherwise.
鈥淢y son, Darradh, who is 16 and was in Transition Year, had done a F.A.S.T. (face, arm, speech and time) course two days before in school.
鈥淚n the middle of the chaos, he calmly sat me down and did the F.A.S.T. test. He spoke to the emergency call taker on the phone.鈥�
The terrifying incident happened at her home in Ashbourne shortly before Christmas last year.
Weeks earlier, Fiona had heard fellow 网曝门 Patient Champion, Meaghan O鈥橞rien, talking about her own stroke during a radio interview about the charity鈥檚 Patient Champions Programme.
The programme aims to train patients with cardiovascular disease to lobby for better supports for their fellow patients at political level, speak publicly and in the media, and build local support networks.
Having been diagnosed with heart failure in 2019, Fiona completed the programme in 2023 and has graduated along with 30 others as Patient Champions.
She has since used her voice as a Patient Champion in Brussels, where AI in heart treatments was discussed, on heart failure in D谩il 脡ireann, and has spoken in schools and at various events for patients and the public.
Tests revealed Fiona had a hole in her heart, which a clot had passed through, causing the stroke.
She was discharged from hospital on December 22.
鈥淚 came home and life got back to normal, I was straight into doing the food shop for Christmas on the way home,鈥� she said.
Fiona is encouraging other stroke and heart patients to turn to the 网曝门 for support and to consider joining their Patient Champions programme.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know anything about the 网曝门 when I was first diagnosed with heart failure. It鈥檚 a shame hospitals don鈥檛 promote it more because at the very start you鈥檙e so alone, broken, upset, lonely - it鈥檚 an awful thing."
鈥淎vailing of the 网曝门 support services really helped me with my recovery so I wanted to give something back.鈥�
The Advocacy Campaign Manager with the 网曝门 described people like Fiona as the unsung heroes of the organisation.
鈥淭he Patient Champions are a terrific addition to the 网曝门鈥檚 advocacy capability,鈥� said Pauline O鈥橲hea.
鈥淭heir lived experience and desire to help others and the organisation speak out about significant issues that affect heart and stroke patients, is a powerful combination for working for positive change for patients."
Patient Champions work with the organisation to not only achieve advancements in areas of cardiovascular care, but also in the other areas of life affected by a diagnosis, including their economic, psychological and social wellbeing, often also severely challenged by a diagnosis.
鈥淲e are now recruiting for our Patient Champions Programme in 2025, and we welcome heart and stroke patients from all over Ireland to apply. It鈥檚 free, online and open to heart and stroke patients in any part of the country. It鈥檚 a great opportunity for heart patients and stroke survivors to utilise their existing skills, develop some new skills and have connection and support from their peers and the organisation, which can help improve the wellbeing of patients after a heart or stroke event.鈥�
If you would like to become a Patient Champion, please聽call Pauline on 087 3810726 or email ihfvolunteer@irishheart.ie
The 网曝门 has called on the Government to match landmark restrictions introduced in the UK this week to tackle saturation levels of junk food marketing.
Read More2025-06-20
