Oxford neurologist's stroke turned his life upside down

One sentence in here is instructive. Your doctors and therapists will never understand stroke survivors unless they have a stroke. "I want people to know that one can work in the field of brain injury for decades and yet not fully understand what survivors are going through." This is precisely why stroke survivors need to be in charge of stroke associations and stroke research.

Oxford neurologist's stroke turned his life upside down

A NEUROLOGIST who spent 20 years improving the lives of brain injury survivors, despite also dealing with the effects of his own stroke, has been shortlisted for a national award.

Professor Udo Kischka, 64, has helped improve the lives of countless brain injury patients while working as a Neuro Rehabilitation Consultant at the Oxford Centre of Enablement since 2004.
Realising the lack of community support available for some brain injury survivors, he helped to foster stronger ties between the OCE and Headway Oxfordshire, eventually volunteering to join the charity's board of trustees.
However, the father-of-two’s life was changed forever after he himself suffered a stroke while running for a train in 2016.
Speaking about the life-altering event, he said: "Theoretically, I knew I should seek medical attention but I didn't.
"Because of the bleed in my brain I felt unnaturally calm. If that happened to someone else I would tell them to go to hospital straight away.
"It's difficult looking back on that. It wasn't clever, but that's what my brain injury did to me."
At home he didn't tell his wife Helen about what happened and carried on working at his desk, eventually slipping into unconsciousness in the early hours of the morning.
He came round lying on the floor of his study, unable to move the left side of his body.
He said: “It was truly terrifying - I couldn’t move and couldn’t shout out."
The professor's wife found him some hours later and he was rushed to the John Radcliffe Hospital.
When he was discharged nine months later, Prof Kischka became involved with Headway Oxfordshire once more, but this time, as a service user.
Throughout his recovery, Prof Kischka says he developed a far deeper understanding of stroke rehabilitation becoming more determined than ever to improve the patient experience for others.
He and his wife now work with medical and care professionals, carers groups and the public to improve understanding of the effects of brain injury.
He said: "It was during my recovery that I became a real stroke specialist.
"I want people to know that one can work in the field of brain injury for decades and yet not fully understand what survivors are going through.
"If I could return to my work I would 'appreciate' my patients differently now.
"You need to ask the patient how it feels for them, don't just assume that you know because you read it in a book. It's not enough.”
For his decades of work to help brain injury survivors Prof Kischka has been nominated for Stephen McAleese Outstanding Contribution to Headway Award at the charity’s annual awards.
Chief executive of Headway Oxfordshire Jamie Miller, said: "His focus on improving the lives of others is genuine and tireless, despite his own daily challenges.
"His personal tragedy has only gone to strengthen his resolve to make a difference to those around him and his community.
"Udo is a delightful, kind person who strives for others and he thoroughly deserves some recognition for his extraordinary efforts and good work."
The awards will be held in London on Friday, December 7.