Gwenda lives on her own. She's 93 years old and registered blind. She moved here
to Darlie House to be with her friends David and Kevin after recently
suffering a stroke. She talks about her experience and how it's affected her
independence. I was listening to Radio Cormor this morning and there was a
lovely Cornish lady on 93, same age as me, who is still I'm not sure she's living
alone but she's still looking after herself during the gardening, during the
cooking, during her work and they asked her how she managed and she said well
she said I've got millions of friends and good health and I love gardening and
you've got to keep going and I thought what a lovely philosophy but when you've
had a stroke it's not so easy to keep going. If I'd had it at home I presume no
knowledge whatsoever I would have collapsed. I can't think what else would
have happened. I went upstairs, we were going to bed and I remember I wanted to
go to the bathroom and was sort of wiggling, sat on a chair and this is a
funny thing. There was I could over my bed David's in the big house I could see
myself. There was my face with a, I won't say or with a vacant look and I remember
thinking what a stupid expression. I can see myself as clearly as if it was
yesterday. Just face looking completely vacant, most peculiar. I was aware of this
sensation but oh since then you know I do go over it a bit sometimes. I wasn't a
bit scared, I just looked so stupid. I said if I'd had a big mirror up and there
was this old lady sort of, well just you know I thought how stupid say
something and Kevin David's friend came up the stairs and David immediately
Kevin went and dialed 999 and David put his arm around me it's all right darling
it's all right stay with us stay with us and I was going oh I can remember this
awful, awful noise coming out of my mouth but I couldn't get over the expression
just before we got to the hospital. Apparently I came to my usual nosy self
and was interrogating the paramedic was he married how many children where did he
live and he said oh I'm so glad you're back with us and you know it happens so
quickly. I can't get over how lucky I am.
He said to me the other day are you happy? I said David how couldn't I be happy
here it's absolutely beautiful and I said you know some irritating things
about me which I'm unaware of apart from talking too much but that sort of has
helped now because of the lack of oxygen so I can't do so much and I said you
must tell me and he said well and it goes for me too and we looked at each
other we just ruddled after and said can't think of anything and it's nice
yeah I don't want to affect his life in any way after all he's only 60 and you
know no blood relation it's absolutely marvellous what he's done and I do
thoroughly appreciate it. I think most stroke victims would say the same one
day you're fine and doing all the things you've done for well not quite all the
things you've done for years and then suddenly you wake up in the hospital and
you can't move your right leg and you're calling for a bedpan I really felt I
ought to have made a fortune on inventing a new bedpan
only a few weeks after making this film
Gwenda passed away
