London Marathon challenge for Black Isle woman inspired by husband’s brave battle for life
THE life-threatening shock of her husband’s sudden brain bleed almost five years ago has led a Black Isle woman to the brink of a payback marathon challenge.
Lucy Tonkin’s husband, Stewart, was struck down by a subarachnoid haemorrhage – a bleed on the brain due to a blood vessel bursting – in November 2019. It was a day that set in motion a rollercoaster series of events for Stewart, Lucy and their children.
Fast-forward through a chastening touch-and-go experience no one could have dreamt off and Lucy is edging closer to the £3000 target she set herself for Brain Research UK, a charity they are keen to repay a huge debt of gratitude to.
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A pub quiz this Saturday (April 19) at The Anderson in Fortrose may well see her hit the total – with a week to spare.
Lucy tells supporters on her Justgiving page of the November 17, 2019 shock that saw Stewart whisked to Edinburgh after initial tests at Raigmore.
She said: “I asked if he would be OK and the doctor said those words you hear on TV but never expect to have spoken to you: 'He is in the right place and we are doing everything we can to save him’. She could not tell me he would be fine. It was written on her face how serious this was.”
In the rush to be with her husband, she reassured her children as best she could: “They gave me two of their teddies, one to look after me and one for Dad. One is now affectionally known as Dr Dog. Pictures of Dr Dog were sent to the girls showing him looking after Daddy.”
Although a life-saving operation the next day was successful, there were complications which meant Stewart caught an infection resulting in him being in a coma for 10 days.
There followed a tough period of physiotherapy and rehabilitation.
Said Lucy: “I found taking his clothes in to him each day and taking his washing home very comforting. It was nice to finally feel that I was able to provide physical help.”
Communication “was terrible” as he still had the tracheotomy which meant he couldn't speak. Lucy came up with a solution of writing out all the common phrases needed so he could point to what he wanted “which did work a lot better”.
Being able to hear his voice again “was amazing” after so long. She recalled: “He was also getting stronger and able to send me short messages when I wasn't at the hospital which made everything so much easier. I knew if he needed me, he could get in touch. As he was progressing in his recovery, I started travelling home to spend time with my kids it was lovely.”
Stewart worked hard to find a way to get out of bed without a hoist. She added: “Since the kids had been able to visit, I had seen a huge shift. He was going to fight this with all he had.”
Of her charity choice, she said: “Without the research being done into brain injuries this story would have been painfully short. I am so grateful that research is being done and that improvements are being made all the time. I have no doubt I would not be telling our story with the positive outcome we have had without the help of the amazing charities such as Brain Research UK.”
As a result of mental health issues she faced during Stewart’s journey, she found running a release from the day-to-day stresses that come from supporting a family through a crisis.
She said: “I hope to raise a significant amount of money to help with research so people affected by brain injuries can have the best chance possible to survive and continue to live a happy and fulfilling life and not be limited by their illness.”
Almost five years on, “life is good, Stewart’s recovery has never failed not to amaze me and make me so proud”.
She said: “We have been so lucky due to the amazing research that has been done regarding that very complex organ, the brain.
“Stewart has received treatment that has saved his life and more than that it has also given him a good standard of life. He is not the same person as before the brain injury but he is here and back to being an amazing Dad, Son, Brother, Uncle, Friend and Husband and for that the family is very grateful.
“I cannot be prouder to have this opportunity to run the London Marathon and while doing it raise some well needed funds.”
Brain Research UK is the leading national funder dedicated to research into neurological conditions.
It funds vital research to increase understanding, improve diagnosis and treatment, and work towards the prevention of neurological conditions, to help people who suffer with them live better, longer.
Its funding is currently focused on three priority research areas: brain tumours, brain and spinal cord injury, and headache and facial pain. These are areas where there is a large unmet patient need that is not reflected in current funding levels. By concentrating efforts on these three areas, it says it can have a more significant impact.
Her Justgiving funding page can be found by searching ‘Lucy Tonkin brain research’.
