Deb's story

As part of a series of profiles of some of the amazing people who make the work of Bristol After Stroke possible through volunteering their time, energy and enthusiasm, we meet Debs Stevens – one of the volunteers helping to run our (award winning!) walking netball group.
 
As Debs (pictured above wearing "GD") explains, she’s now putting back some of the support and help that helped her rebuild her life after her stroke.

“I had my stroke in April 2023,” Debs recounts. “It was quite weird. In fact, I didn't even know that I’d had a stroke… there were just little things that weren’t working properly. I’m left handed. Suddenly I couldn't use it to write, and I couldn't lift my leg.

“My children made me go to hospital where they told me I’d had a stroke. But to be honest, it wasn't that bad to begin with. Then, at the end of May, I had some sort of episode. My leg was worse, and my speech went. I returned to hospital: they told me I had something called a ‘functional neurological disorder’ or ‘FND’.

“Everything changed overnight,” she says. “Before that I’d been really active. I’d served in the Army and in the Ambulance Service. At the time it happened, I was a support worker for a homeless youth, and I was always out with friends, going to concerts or watching Bristol Bears rugby.
 
“Going out, seeing my old friends, going to concerts... it all just stopped. It was horrible. I didn't want my friends see me like this, and I didn't know anyone else in my situation. I did try. I went to a stroke café, but I was much younger than the others there and felt out of place – and that upset me even more.

“I resigned myself to not doing anything. I got really depressed, had a massive breakdown and went onto anti-depressants.”

So what changed?

“Netball,” Debs says. “Just before the FND, I’d had an email from Bristol After Stroke about walking netball, asking me if I'd like to join. I’d played at school and in the Army – and I’d loved it, so I put my name down.

“Even after that episode I knew I needed to go. I’m very sociable. Some people would describe me as ‘talkative’! But I was lonely. I’m a single mum, and the young girl I care for wanted to be out with her friends ­– not be stuck in with me.”

What was it like to start with?

“The first session, I was petrified. We all met at the front of a leisure centre and I was shaking I was so nervous – and quiet. And that’s not me!

“I had very mixed emotions. I remember playing netball when I was younger and running around. This was another thing I couldn't do as well now, and that was upsetting. But it was great to talk to other people who had had strokes. Now I could talk to people who had gone through what I had gone through and that was so helpful.
 
“When I tell them about something that’s happened, they’ll say, ‘That’s part of it, Debs.’ They aren’t being unsympathetic, but we’re all in the same boat! I can’t even tell my parents – they’d worry. But I can talk to them, and that gives you that bit of hope.”

As she explains, while she can’t play like she did when she was younger, and lacks the power in her arm, “There’s no embarrassment – we all have same symptoms. No one feels sorry for you… I don't want people to feel sorry for me. All of us are just doing our best.”

How did the volunteering begin?

“When it started, it was an 11-week pilot,” explains Debs, “so the person running it was no longer there. Bristol After Stroke asked if anyone would like to help host it and I put my name forward. I went on a course, which was hard work and took it out of me, but I just wanted to carry on.
 
“As well as organising things on the day, I’m also recruiting new players. We get about 12 turning up each week ­– they're such nice people and you get lovely feedback. Everyone’s got to know each other. We know each other’s names now – which took a while as our memories aren’t always great! We’ve even been nominated for an England Netball award for inclusiveness.

“We all end up in the pub afterwards for a coffee or lemonade, and it’s wonderful just to go out again… it's little steps. I don't see my old friends so much now, but I have lots of new ones. I’ve even joined a ‘working age’ group at Crofts End where I really feel at home.”

What next?

“I’ve set myself and scored a few goals now,” concludes Debs. “Staying awake was one! Playing netball has been another. Next, I want to try and ride a bike… I used to when I was younger and once cycled from London to Brighton. I’d love to get the confidence to get back on a bike again.”