'In an instant, I’d lost everything': Brave young stroke survivor speaks out after learning to speak and walk again

A brave young stroke survivor has spoken about life after forgetting how to speak - and not being able to even remember the word "Hello".

Former primary school teacher Alisha Malhotra, 28, from Harrow, is one of the thousands of people living with communication difficulties after a stroke.

She had a severe stroke in 2016 which left her initially unable to read, write, speak or walk and hospitalised for five months.

Alisha said: "Within an instant, I’d lost everything. I didn’t know any words; hello, goodbye, mum, dad – they’d all gone."

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She added: "I had no idea what had happened to me, and I don’t think I realised in hospital just how serious it was. I smiled and nodded to nurses and doctors, and everyone would tell me how well I looked.

"They didn’t realise just how much I was hiding behind my smile; I remember being so confused by everything going on around me.

"I have a head full of ideas and things I want to say, sometimes I think I can’t fit much more in there. Having aphasia is like being in a bubble, you feel trapped in yourself.

"It’s all I think about, day in and day out. I even have dreams at night where I think when I wake up everything will be as before."

Alisha is one of the thousands of people living with communication difficulties after a stroke (Image: Stroke Association)

More than 350,000 people in the UK have aphasia, a communication disability which can be caused by stroke.

A stroke is a brain attack which happens when the blood supply to the brain is cut off, caused by a clot or bleeding in the brain.

There are more than 100,000 strokes in the UK each year - around one stroke every five minutes.

'I know I will get better, and I will fulfil all my dreams'

Alisha now attends the Stoke Association’s support group at Harrow Arts Centre, and has speech and language therapy twice a week.

She said: "Speech and language therapy has been a huge help to my recovery, but it’s really hard work. I’ve had to completely start from scratch.

"The Stroke Association’s local support group has helped me to meet other stroke survivors who are in the position as me, which has been really helpful.

"I’ve lost some of my independence since having a stroke, and even something as simple as texting a friend was the biggest hurdle of my day.

"I have to get buses and trains, and that can be so scary when you have aphasia.

"I’m so passionate to help raise awareness of stroke and aphasia now. I really want to help other people who are going through what I am, and to support the charity in raising awareness of this difficult condition.

"I am a fighter and I know I will get better, and I will fulfil all my dreams."

Charity Stroke Association works directly with stroke survivors and their families and carers, with health and social care professionals and with scientists and researchers.

Michelle Dalmacio, director of stroke support south at the Stroke Association, said: "After a stroke, around one in three people like Alisha have difficulty communicating, which can be both terrifying and isolating.

"But with the right help and support, many stroke survivors are able to find new ways to communicate, and can rebuild their lives. Alisha’s determination to get better is incredible, she’s a real inspiration to others."

The Stroke Association is urging people to show their support for stroke survivors who are lost for words and make a donation.

For more information, visit their website.