When Joni Hughes sneezed one evening in November 2022, she felt sudden, excruciating pain in her neck. Within hours, her right side was paralysed and she could not move. An ambulance arrived quickly and took her to hospital, where doctors discovered she had suffered a stroke.
At hospital, things deteriorated rapidly. Her speech became slurred and she lost consciousness, going into cardiac arrest. The medical team at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals began CPR immediately. "I was gone for four minutes, but they brought me back," she says.
Joni spent a week on a ventilator in intensive care whilst recovering from both the stroke and pneumonia that had developed. She then moved to the stroke unit and rehabilitation services.
"ICU was awesome, the stroke unit was awesome, rehab was awesome. I wouldn't be here without them," she says of the care she received from doctors, nurses, and therapists.
Her recovery continues but has been slower in recent months. She lives with right-side weakness, mobility difficulties, and uses a specialist device to help her walk. Fatigue remains her biggest challenge.
"Everyday tasks can still be difficult," she explains. "I can't do my hair properly, and I need help with cooking or walking long distances."
Despite the setbacks, Joni celebrates small victories. Recently managing to fill her own car with petrol felt like a major milestone.
She credits her recovery to ongoing rehabilitation, a personal trainer, and the unwavering support of her husband. She is sharing her story to help others understand what stroke survivors face and to raise awareness of the condition.