In this episode, we speak to Morgan Leigh, who experienced a haemorrhagic stroke at just 22 after an AVM (arteriovenous malformation) in her thalamus haemorrhaged.

Morgan first discovered she had an AVM at 18, after being hit in the head while at high school. Four years later, she experienced a brain haemorrhage that left her in a wheelchair and facing a long road to recovery.

Today, Morgan is walking and talking again, although she still walks with a limp. In this episode, she shares what happened, what recovery has really been like, and what life looks like after surviving a brain haemorrhage at a young age.

Morgan talks about:

• Discovering she had an AVM at 18 after being hit in the head at high school.
• What it was like to find out there was an abnormality in her brain at such a young age.
• What she understood about her AVM at the time and how she felt about living with it.
• Experiencing a haemorrhagic stroke at 22 and what she remembers about the day it happened.
• The shock of suddenly finding herself in a wheelchair and losing her independence.
• The early stages of recovery and the challenges of rehabilitation.
• Having to relearn things that many of us take for granted.
• The physical and emotional impact of recovering from a brain haemorrhage in your twenties.
• What recovery looks like today, including walking and talking again and living with a limp.
• The things people don't necessarily see or understand about life after a brain haemorrhage.
• How the experience has changed the way she sees herself, her life and her future.
• What she wishes she had known when she first discovered her AVM at 18.
• Why she believes more people should understand what AVMs are and the potential risks associated with them.
• AVMs and aneurysms — what they are, how they can be discovered and what can happen when they bleed.
• Whether AVMs can be detected before they cause a problem and what people should know if Morgan's story raises concerns for them.
• What she would say to other young people facing an AVM, brain haemorrhage or stroke.

Support The Natalie Kate Moss Trust

The Natalie Kate Moss Trust funds research into brain haemorrhage, with the aim of improving outcomes for people affected by this devastating condition.

If you would like to support our work, you can make a donation here:

https://www.nataliekatemoss.co.uk/donate?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Monthly Blood Pressure Reminders

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for brain haemorrhage. Regularly checking your blood pressure can help you understand your numbers and identify high blood pressure.

Sign up to receive a monthly reminder to check your blood pressure:

https://mailchi.mp/nataliekatemoss.co.uk/monthly-reminders?utm_source=chatgpt.com

More about The Natalie Kate Moss Trust

https://www.nataliekatemoss.co.uk/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Read Morgan’s book ‘Stroke Warrior’

https://a.co/d/0dDBMjFg