Donate

 

Rather than giving flowers, maybe you would consider making a donation to one of the following charities?

Dad was very active in the Isle of Wight Stroke Club that is affiliated to the Stroke Association.

More recently he was engaging with the MDS UK Patient Support Group.

 

Stroke Association

What is a stroke?

A stroke is a brain attack. It happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, killing brain cells. Damage to the brain can affect how the body works. It can also change how you think and feel.

The effects of a stroke depend on where it takes place in the brain, and how big the damaged area is.

Different types of stroke

There are three different types of stroke; ischaemic strokes, haemorrhagic strokes and transient ischemic attacks.

  • An ischaemic stroke is caused by a blockage cutting off the blood supply to the brain. This is the most common type of stroke.

  • A haemorrhagic stroke is caused by a bleeding in or around the brain.

  • A transient ischaemic attack or TIA is also known as a mini-stroke. It is the same as a stroke, except that the symptoms only last for a short amount of time. This is because the blockage that stops the blood getting to your brain is temporary.

MDS UK

What is MDS?

MDS stands for Myelodysplastic Syndromes, and it is a group of malignant blood disorders in which the bone marrow fails to produce healthy blood cells.

All types of blood cells can be affected, causing a range of symptoms.

  • Red cells (also called erythrocytes) – which carry oxygen to organs and tissues in the body

  • White cells – which collectively fight against infection

  • Platelets (also called thrombocytes) – which prevent us from bruising and bleeding.