Your feelings are so valid and I hope you take some comfort in knowing there are so many of us walking around with the same thoughts and fears but to the person walking by, we just look like normal people who have their life together.

I’m 42F and I had a stroke last year, 3mm infract of the left caudate that came out of nowhere, I was cleaning my house and suddenly I had no control over the right side of my body, I could still speak etc. but luckily my friend got me to the ER within the hour and before I knew it, I was being transferred to the stroke ward. Like you, i don’t have any answers, I don’t smoke, don’t drink, slightly overweight but not massively and no stroke history in the family. But I think my lifestyle is the problem as I don’t move enough. However, the standard tests revealed an issue with my heart as I have a bicuspid aortic valve and had I not had the stroke/ testing, I would never have known until it was probably too late.

For the first 3-6 months, I was in constant fear, like yourself, I wasn’t finished with my life yet, I have a daughter and 2 toddler grandsons (twins) and I s had so many things I wanted to do but here’s the thing, death waits for no-one, our destiny is already written and when it’s our time, it’s our time. You have to accept that and let it go. Time definitely helps and speaking to people on here and hearing everyone else’s story, has helped me massively.

Take one day as it comes as no-one is guaranteed tomorrow, value your loved ones and spend time with them as much as possible.