Stroke survivor Eleanor Smyth’s remarkable journey from immobility to helping others

Ballymena woman, 69-year-old Eleanor Smyth

In the heart of Ballymena, 69-year-old Eleanor Smyth dedicates her Wednesday mornings to a cause close to her heart. As a volunteer with Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke’s (NICHS) Post Rehab Exercise Programme (PREP), she supports stroke survivors on their path to recovery.

This commitment is deeply personal for Eleanor, who, just 18 months ago, faced a life-altering stroke that left her unable to walk. Her inspiring journey from immobility to becoming a beacon of hope for others highlights the power of resilience and community support.

A shocking diagnosis

Eleanor’s stroke came unexpectedly, despite her active lifestyle.

“I had started falling over a bit and thought it must be something to do with my ears as that can affect your balance,” she recalls.

“I later found out I had suffered multiple TIAs, often known as ‘mini strokes’, followed by a full stroke. I have always been very fit and active, so it was a massive shock to me and my family.”

The morning of her stroke was particularly harrowing.

“I got out of bed and fell straight to the floor,” Eleanor explains. “I actually started to laugh and said to my husband Brian that I must have got up too quickly. No matter how hard I tried however, I couldn’t get up, and Brian couldn’t help me either as he is disabled.”

Determined, Eleanor slid herself across the floor to reach the stairs and managed to get downstairs, unaware of the severity of her condition.

As the day progressed, her symptoms worsened.

“After dinner, I tried to sit down on the sofa and just went head first into it,” she says.

Her husband, Brian, grew increasingly concerned, noting her slurred speech and trailing leg—symptoms Eleanor was unaware of. Her family insisted on taking her to Antrim Area Hospital, where tests confirmed she had experienced multiple transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs) and a full stroke.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Eleanor says. “I was admitted and stayed in hospital for eight days.”

The long road to recovery

The stroke severely impacted Eleanor’s mobility and cognitive functions.

“My mobility was very badly affected as the muscles in my back and legs had collapsed,” she shares.

“I couldn’t walk and it was three months before I could even move using a rollator. I trailed a leg and arm and had to really work hard on trying to improve my mobility.”

Beyond physical challenges, Eleanor battled severe fatigue and “brain fog,” which made everyday tasks overwhelming.

“I also could not get over the tiredness I felt, a real fatigue,” she says. “It was like hitting a brick wall and I found that frustrating. I wanted to get up and do things and I couldn’t, and I hated that.”

For six months, the Community Stroke Team provided essential support at home. However, it was NICHS’s PREP programme that proved transformative. This physiotherapy-led, community-based initiative supports stroke survivors after NHS rehabilitation, combining exercise and education to rebuild lives.

Eleanor completed three cycles of the programme, which she credits as pivotal to her recovery.

“The first time I went to PREP I was nervous but within a couple of weeks I felt right at home,” she says. “PREP helped me on my recovery journey more than anything.”

The Power of Peer Support

Beyond the physical benefits of physiotherapy, Eleanor found immense value in the programme’s peer support.

“The physiotherapy was of course extremely beneficial, but it was the talking to other stroke survivors and the peer support which really helped me,” she explains.

“The other group members understood what it was like to have a stroke; we were all in similar situations and I could talk about things I didn’t want to worry my family about. We also had fun and a laugh too which was great.”

The sense of community fostered by PREP inspired Eleanor to give back. When her third cycle ended, she felt a void.

“I really felt like I didn’t know what I was going to do without it,” she says. “It helped me feel like I was getting back to the person I used to be.”

Encouraged by the group’s Care Services Coordinator, Patricia, Eleanor became a volunteer, eager to help others navigate their recovery.

Volunteering with purpose

Eleanor’s role at PREP is both rewarding and fulfilling.

“I love every minute of volunteering at PREP,” she says. “I look forward to it every week and I won’t go anywhere on a Wednesday as I never want to miss the group.”

Her experience as a stroke survivor allows her to connect deeply with participants.

“I love being able to help people on their recovery journeys,” she says. “I can share my experiences and hopefully that helps some people. I can reassure them; I’ve been where they are. I can also help give people hope for their recovery—I improved, and they can too.”

Eleanor also supports the mental health aspect of recovery, which she sees as equally critical.

“It’s not just physical challenges which people face,” she notes.

“After the physiotherapy exercises, we sit down and have a chat and that really helps people. You can see the stresses and worries lift a bit when people talk about how they are feeling and realise they aren’t alone, that others understand what it is like.”

Her dedication is a source of inspiration.

“Volunteering at PREP inspires me,” Eleanor says. “When I see how far people have come when they get to the end of a PREP rotation it is an inspiration to me. The people at PREP make it and it is a joy to be part of.”

A call for volunteers

Eleanor’s story is a testament to the impact of NICHS’s work and the vital role of volunteers. Caoimhe Devlin, Head of HR and Volunteering at NICHS, praises Eleanor’s contribution:

“We are so grateful for all the help and support Eleanor gives to our charity and we would like to take this opportunity to thank her, and all our other volunteers this Volunteers’ Week.”

Devlin emphasises the charity’s reliance on volunteers:

“At NICHS we depend on the support of our team of committed and compassionate volunteers to allow us to deliver our charitable activities. We involve volunteers in everything we do, and we could not achieve what we do without them.”

NICHS is actively seeking volunteers across Northern Ireland to support its care services, public health initiatives, and fundraising efforts.

“Volunteering with NICHS really will make a profound difference to the lives of local people,” Devlin adds.

Those inspired by Eleanor’s story can explore opportunities at www.nichs.org.uk/volunteering.

A beacon of hope

Eleanor’s journey from a life-changing stroke to volunteering hero underscores the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of community support. Her story serves as a reminder of the importance of recognising stroke symptoms—such as sudden weakness, slurred speech, or difficulty walking—and seeking immediate medical help.

For Eleanor, volunteering is not just about giving back; it’s about inspiring others to believe in their recovery.

“I would really encourage people to think about volunteering if they have some spare time and a positive attitude,” she says. “You will get so much out of it.”

For more information on how to support or volunteer with Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke, visit www.nichs.org.uk/volunteering.