Counterstroke Fiji

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From Letisha, "My stroke happened while I was pregnant with my youngest son.

At the time, I already had three children aged four, 12 and 13. Like many women, I was juggling family, work and the demands of everyday life. I was a full-time, career-driven woman, and then suddenly everything changed.

Overnight, I went from planning for the future to facing uncertainty about how I was going to care for a newborn, support my family and navigate life after stroke.

I also carried the pressure that so many women do - to keep going, to cope, and not make a fuss.

What I didn't know then was that this moment would change not only my health, but my identity.

I Knew Something Was Wrong. My symptoms started several days before I was diagnosed.

On a Thursday evening, I felt unwell and was experiencing symptoms that I knew weren't normal. A home doctor visited and told me I was having a migraine. I was given pain relief and told to rest.

By Saturday, I was no better, so I went to a medical centre.

Again, I was told it was a migraine.

On Monday, still concerned, I sought help for a third time. Thankfully, that doctor recognised that something much more serious was happening and told me to go straight to emergency.

Looking back, I believe my symptoms were minimised because I was a young woman and pregnant.

There was an assumption that I was stressed or suffering from migraines rather than experiencing a medical emergency.

That delay in diagnosis changed the course of my life.

Earlier recognition of stroke may have prevented some of the permanent physical challenges I now live with every day.

When You're Not Believed...

One of the hardest parts of my experience was not feeling heard.

I was repeatedly told that I was having a migraine. Even after I was admitted to hospital, the assumption lingered.

When multiple health professionals tell you that what you're experiencing isn't serious, you start questioning yourself.

You start wondering if you're overreacting or imagining things, and looking back, I can see how dangerous that was.

The dismissal wasn't just frustrating. It delayed treatment and contributed to lifelong consequences.

It also opened my eyes to how easily women's symptoms can be explained away as stress, anxiety or emotion rather than recognised as something medical.

Motherhood and Recovery...

Having a stroke while pregnant meant that recovery and motherhood became intertwined.

At the same time, I was learning to live with the impacts of stroke, I was preparing to welcome a new baby and continue caring for my other children.

I wasn't just recovering from a stroke; I was trying to rebuild my life while raising a family, through days filled with fear, uncertainty and grief.

I grieved for the woman I had been before my stroke. I grieved for the future I thought I was going to have.

Most of all, I struggled with the feeling that a piece of me had disappeared.

Although I looked the same on the outside, I felt completely different on the inside, as though part of my essence had been lost.

People often focus on physical recovery after stroke, but for me the emotional, cognitive and social impacts were just as significant.

I struggled with fatigue, overstimulation, and constant pressure to appear okay.

Pretending I was fine often left me feeling isolated and lonely, even when I was surrounded by people.

The Moment Everything Changed...

There came a point where I realised I couldn't keep living on autopilot.

I had become a shell of my former self, surviving but not truly living, and I couldn't bear staying trapped in my own thoughts and grief any longer.

That was the moment I decided I needed to rebuild my life from the inside out. I had to accept that life before the stroke wasn't coming back.

Some relationships had changed, some dreams had changed, and I had changed.

Instead of focusing on what I had lost, I began imagining the future I wanted, visualising the life I wanted to create and the person I wanted to become, then working towards that vision one day at a time.

One day at a time.

That shift - from surviving to thriving - changed everything.

Finding People Who Understood...

While practical support was helpful, the thing that made the biggest difference was feeling emotionally safe.

I needed people who could listen without judgement and not minimise what I was experiencing.

For years, I found myself bracing for comments like:

"You're too young to have had a stroke."

Or:

"You look like you've recovered well."

What helped me most was connecting with people who truly understood.

Other stroke survivors.

People who understood the invisible impacts.

People who understood that recovery is not always visible.

Those connections helped me accept my life after stroke and reminded me that I wasn't alone.

What I Wish People Knew...

I wish more people understood that stroke in women does not always look like the textbook examples. Women's symptoms can be different, maternal stroke is real, and hormonal changes matter.

Too often, women's concerns are dismissed as stress, anxiety or exhaustion, when they should be taken seriously.

I want healthcare professionals and decision-makers to understand that when women say something feels wrong, they need to be listened to immediately, not later or only after they have seen multiple doctors.

My Message to Other Women...

If there's one thing I want other women to know, it's this:

Trust yourself.

Your body is speaking to you.

Don't silence it.

If something feels wrong, keep asking questions. Keep seeking help. Keep advocating for yourself.

You are not being dramatic.

You are not overreacting.

You deserve to be taken seriously.

Your life is worth the inconvenience of someone else's discomfort. "

If this story resonates with you and you have question, please call the team on StrokeLine 1800 787 653

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Counterstroke Fiji is in the house at the SJSS Alumnae Market Day at the School Hall. Please do come and join us for some fun buys, and we'll take your blood pressure (for free!l) 🙏🙏

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The Counterstroke Fiji Office at the NCPD Complex, 3 Brown St is closed today. For anything urgent please call Margaret on 7977196 or DM at Counterstroke Fiji 🙏🙏🙏

Please please take the time to read this, a stroke changes your life, and that of your family in so many ways. Chronic Hypertension (HTN) is the fastest growing NCD in Fiii according to the 2025 Fiji STEPS Survey which was launched on 5 February 2026. Chronic HTN is a very silent killer and is impacting Fijians at younger and younger ages. Today Fiji's first Guidebook on Employment for Persons with Disabilities was launched, and the impact on employment for stroke survivors is particularly challenging so please, have regular medical checks and if you're already diagnosed pay attention and take care 🙏🙏🙏🙏

Congratulations UBP for taking the initiative and for bringing everyone together for this. As was repeated a number of times we now need to keep it from gathering dust and getting ALL stakeholders in the workplace to support persons with disabilities to reach their potential 🙏🙏🙏🙏

Wonderful Wednesday!

Join us for lunch and enjoy your favorite meal! Indulge in our fresh seafood, lovingly prepared with the finest ingredients and served with care. We can’t wait to welcome you!

🍽️ Fresh • Flavorful • Made with Love

Location: The Lees Complex, Center Point, Laucala Beach.

Contact us for details: 2902899