Louise had a stroke when she was just 20, but it wasn’t diagnosed for three days after she was initially dismissed by both GPs and paramedics.

Louise said: 'I woke up in the morning and felt really ill, almost like I had a severe hangover. I vomited a couple of times. I went to my friend’s house that day for tea. I sat at the table and the whole room started spinning. I was so dizzy. My coordination went. I went into her back garden and vomited.  I never in a million years thought it would be true – that I felt like I was having a stroke.'

After staying at her friend’s house overnight, Louise woke to find she could not feel her toes on her left foot. She went to see her GP, who said she must have just had a reaction to something and sent her home.

Dismissed and misdiagnosed

'That night, I genuinely thought I was going to die,' said Louise. 'I had the most severe pain in my head. I felt like my head was going to explode. I remember trying to get down the stairs and I was crashing into the walls, so an ambulance was called.'

While that should have meant Louise was taken seriously, paramedics suspected Louise was under the influence of alcohol or drugs – even though she was unable to see, speak or walk.

Thankfully, her sister called 999 again, and a second ambulance took her to hospital. There she was initially misdiagnosed as having an ear infection, before an MRI scan confirmed she had had a stroke. This was three days after the stroke had occurred.

Louise said: 'I feel like, because I was so young, I wasn’t taken seriously at all.'

Impact of stroke

Louise spent three weeks in Wigan Hospital where she received physiotherapy. Doctors determined her stroke was caused by a hole in her heart, which has since been operated on.

Before her stroke, Louise loved socialising and nights out with her friends. She was also looking forward to the adventure of starting a new life in Ireland.

Louise said: 'Before my stroke I had a very active social life. I was always out and about doing things with friends. But after my stroke, I couldn’t, and I still can’t, stand being in crowds of people. My coordination and balance have never been the same, and I do still suffer with fatigue.'

I still get emotional sometimes now about what happened almost 10 years later. It was a massive trauma in my life and I’ve had counselling over the years to help me come to terms with it.

Louise, stroke survivor

Finding a new path

Today, Louise is married with two children and has started a new career in adult social care.

Louise said: 'My biggest achievement since my stroke is having my beautiful children. Back when I was really poorly I didn’t know whether this would ever be a possibility for me, so I’m so thankful.

'I also completely changed my career, I feel really positive now and feel like I’ve got my ambition back.'

Bringing real experience to the Street

In early 2026, Louise was approached by the Stroke Association to work with Coronation Street and specifically advise Sydney Martin, who plays a 19-year-old stroke survivor on the show.

'I feel grateful to have been involved in the Corrie storyline, I think it's amazing that it's being brought to so many people's attention that young people can suffer strokes. It's been good to share my story and also what it was like in the time after my stroke. Corrie have been so passionate about getting it right and I think that’s vital.'

'Young people can have strokes too'

And her message to viewers of the show?

'I think it’s important for viewers to understand that strokes aren't just something that happen to older people. The recovery is long and tough and it really changes you as a person. I think other young stroke survivors will watch it and feel seen.

'No one thinks something like this will happen to them or a young person they know. But things do, so it's huge to have this awareness.'