The Stroke Association of Victoria aims to help those affected by stroke.

Child Stroke

Stroke does not discriminate on the basis of gender, age, nationality, politics or religion - Stroke can strike anybody, at any age and at any place. Children can and do suffer from stroke and this can be before birth, during birth and at any time between birth and old age.

Approximately 35 Victorian children suffer a stroke each year and are admitted to the Royal Children's Hospital; that's about 2 child strokes each three weeks.

The causes of stroke in children are exactly the same as the causes of stroke in older people.      

For more information about stroke, click on "What is a Stroke"  or select the tab from the menu on the side.

How Do I Know If My Child Has Had A Stroke?

As a parent, nobody knows your child better than you do and you are the best person able to detect the early signs of stroke. Variations in the child may include some or even all of these conditions;

 blurred vision,     slurred speech,     confusion,      dizziness,      severe headaches,       loss of co-ordination,     difficulty with swallowing,       weakness on one side of the body    or  inability to use limbs on one side.

Remember, the effects of stroke, generally, cannot be reversed so it is imperative that if you suspect that a child has had a stroke, you MUST seek medical advice immediately so that the effect of the stroke can be minimised. Don't wait for a GP appointment, call for an ambulance on ' OOO ' if you are using a land line or ' 112' if you are using a Mobile phone.

Like an adult, a child will require Rehabilitation after a stroke.  It will depend on how much damage has happened to the brain as to how well the child will recover.

 

 CHILD STROKE SUPPORT GROUP

At the Royal Children's Hospital, carers of child stroke survivors have recently commenced a peer-to-peer support group called 'StroKidz'. Members of the group include carers, who are generally the parents of the stroke children and the stroke children as well.

The group members help to provide reassurance, comfort, solace, and emotional support to each other as well as offering similar help to others who may be seeking support. They provide support and information based on their own life experiences and offer the opportunity for new carers to express their fears and frustrations to a person who has been through the same experience with their own child.

Children in the group learn to adapt and can play with other children whenever they meet. 

Click on the link below to read an article about a 'StroKidz' group meeting that has a picture of the children. It has been reproduced from our Summer 2006 issue of 'Stroke Talk'.

For further information about the 'StroKidz' Support Group or if you need to discuss your particular child stroke issues and concerns with a group member, you can contact one of the following group members:-

Jackie  5422 3887

Sally  9574 7071

Andrew  9885 4477

 

To read the 'Stroke Talk' article about the StroKidz Support Group meeting - click here

To visit the StroKidz Support Group page - click here

To read the Jukes Family's Journey through Child Stroke - click here

 The Stroke Association of Victoria Inc. (SAV) may be contacted as follows:-

Stroke Association of Victoria Inc. 

PO Box 226

GEELONG 3220 VICTORIA

AUSTRALIA

Telephone: 03 9670 1117  Fax:  03 52 787980

Email: admin@strokeassociation.com.au

 

             Or Visit the 'StroKidz Support Group's own web site.

Remember, If you don't ask for help, how is anybody going to help you?

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