Young stroke survivors' book tells of the daily challenges they face

Two young stroke survivors have written a book they hope will help others who are facing a similar situation.

The book, HiddeninMe, is a love story of how Becki Cobb and Simon Commins were brought together as a result of their strokes, and their lives before and after.

Becki, of Newark, was 21 and in her final year of university when she suffered a stroke.

It happened as she walked to her part-time job. She fell over, found she could not get back up and had to be helped by two police officers.

The stroke was caused by a blood clot passing through a small hole in her heart and reaching her brain. It paralysed the left side of her body. She could not walk, talk or smile and spent seven weeks in hospital, where she had physiotherapy-led rehabilitation.

Six years on, she still has physiotherapy.

Simon was 17 and doing his A-levels when he had a stroke.

He was on the way to his job at a gym when he collapsed in a carpark and was rushed to hospital.

His stroke was caused by a bleed on the brain as a result of an abnormal connection between an artery and vein.

It meant Simon experienced a number of problems, including speech and language disorder, visual impairment and loss of basic skills.

The pair met four years ago by chance and hit it off immediately.

After a year they decided they wanted to share their story and so help other young people who have suffered a stroke.

They spent three years working on the book because they wanted it to be just right and have decided to self-publish.

“We wanted the book to be completely ours, showing what could be possible for people who experience life-changing events that cause physical or hidden disabilities,” Simon said.

'Hidden aspects of living with a disability'

The book looks at the different challenges they have faced to overcome hidden and physical disabilities.

“We wanted to demonstrate the many hidden aspects of living with a disability,” Becki said.

“Some are hidden struggles, while others are hidden strengths.”

The cover of the book is a scan of Simon’s brain and shows the area removed after his stroke.

Becki said: “We felt this was a powerful image because to look at or speak to Simon you would never know what he has been through, but the effects are still there and affect him every day.

“There are also hidden aspects to my disabilities.

“People can see how I physically struggle when I walk but they don’t see how that struggle affects the rest of my day-to-day life.”

The book is released on Monday and can be pre-ordered in paperback.

There will be an e-book version and Becki and Simon plan to release an audio book next year.

All versions will be available online at www.hiddeninme.com

After the book release they will be available for speaking events and have two lined up already.

“We want to carry on showing that no matter what challenging events life throws at you it doesn’t have to mean the end — it can sometimes be the beginning,” Simon said.