'Radio interview helped save my life' - Ashbourne stroke survivor

An Ashbourne stroke survivor has told how hearing a fellow patient’s experience of the potentially fatal condition, helped to save her life.

Fiona Meagher, 54, asked her husband and son to call an ambulance when her arm went weak while reaching to a cupboard at home.

The mum said a radio interview about another stroke survivor’s symptoms just weeks earlier, saved her.

"I said to my husband and son, I’m having a stroke, call an ambulance,” said Fiona.

"But that was only because I had listened to Meaghan O’Brien’s story.

“My son, Darradh, who is 16 and was in Transition Year, had done a F.A.S.T. (face, arm, speech and time) course two days before in school.

“In the middle of the chaos, he calmly sat me down and did the F.A.S.T. test. He spoke to the emergency call taker on the phone.”

The terrifying incident happened at her home in ashbourne shortly before Christmas last year.

Weeks earlier, mum-of-three Fiona had heard Irish Heart Foundation Patient Champion, Meaghan O’Brien, describing her own stroke symptoms during a radio interview.

The Patient Champions Programme aims to train patients with cardiovascular disease to lobby for better supports for their fellow patients at political level, speak publicly and in the media, and build local support networks.

After being diagnosed with heart failure in 2019, Fiona completed the programme in 2023 and has graduated - along with 30 others - as a Patient Champion.

She has since used her voice in Brussels, where AI in heart treatments was discussed, on heart failure in Dáil Éireann, and has spoken in schools and at various events for patients and the public.

Tests revealed Fiona had a hole in her heart, which a clot had passed through, causing the stroke.

She was discharged from hospital on December 22 last year.

“I came home and life got back to normal, I was straight into doing the food shop for Christmas on the way home,” she said.

Fiona is encouraging other stroke and heart patients to turn to the Irish Heart Foundation for support and to consider joining the Patient Champions programme.

“I didn’t know anything about the Irish Heart Foundation when I was first diagnosed with heart failure,” she said.

“It’s a shame hospitals don’t promote it more because at the very start you’re so alone, broken, upset, lonely - it’s an awful thing.

“Availing of the Irish Heart Foundation support services really helped me with my recovery so I wanted to give something back.”

The Advocacy Campaign Manager with the Irish Heart Foundation described people like Fiona as the unsung heroes of the organisation.

“The Patient Champions are a terrific addition to the Irish Heart Foundation,” said Pauline O’Shea.

“Their lived experience and desire to help others and the organisation speak out about significant issues that affect heart and stroke patients, is a powerful combination for working for positive change for patients.

“We are now recruiting for our Patient Champions Programme in 2025, and we welcome heart and stroke patients from all over Ireland to apply.”

If you would like to become one, visit irishheart.ie/patientchampions