Make every stroke count: swim for survivors this November
Giving Christmas Tree
Christmas Hat Day 2025
In January 2022, Lynda’s life changed overnight. She had been busy around the house when a sharp pain in her neck and shoulders stopped her in her tracks. Lynda was rushed to Cork University Hospital, where doctors discovered she had suffered an ischaemic stroke. An ischaemic stroke happens when a blood clot or plaque blocks a vessel in the brain, cutting off vital blood flow and oxygen. This is the most common type of stroke, and Lynda’s quick treatment was critical. After surgery, Lynda woke unable to see, paralysed on her right side, and struggling to speak.
11 November 2025
Lynda’s Story
After a sudden stroke, Lynda was left paralysed and unable to see or speak properly. With the support of Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, she regained her independence, rebuilt her confidence, and reclaimed the everyday joys she once feared were lost. Today, she is thriving and inspiring others on their recovery journeys.
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There’s a ripple effect when a major life-changing event happens. The stroke affected me but also everyone around me, my family.
Returning home brought new challenges as she and her family adapted to an entirely different way of life. Once fiercely independent, Lynda now needed help with even the simplest tasks.
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I needed help with everything – opening toothpaste, showering, getting dressed. Whoever was there had to help me out of bed, put on the kettle, make breakfast. With everything going on, most of the time I ended up just sitting in a chair.
Your gift helps stroke survivors regain independence and rebuild their lives
Everything changed when Lynda connected with our services.
Our Home and Community Rehabilitation Service provides expert, one-to-one support to brain injury survivors within their home environments. With one-to-one support, tailored to her rehabilitation goals, Lynda got the help she needed. Lynda’s personalised plan focused on mobility, memory and anxiety management.
As her recovery continued, she joined a local peer support group, where she met others living with brain injuries. Sharing experiences helped her regain confidence and reconnect with her community.
With encouragement from her Community Rehabilitation Assistant, Sharon, Lynda pushed through each stage of recovery. Over time, she regained her independence and returned to the activities she loves, including gardening, cooking, and driving. She has also become an advocate for brain injury awareness, sharing her story to inspire others on their journey to recovery.
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The peer support I get every Friday has been life changing. In our group, we motivate each other to try new things, push boundaries, do brain exercises, and share advice. That support rebuilds confidence, which is often shaken after a stroke.
Each year, ABI Ireland supports over 1,300 survivors like Lynda, helping them to regain independence, confidence, and hope.
We provide expert support to help people and their families recover from the impacts of brain injury. Our teams offer services and tools that enable survivors to rehabilitate, adapt, and live life to the fullest.
But we can’t do it alone.
In Ireland, 19,000 people suffer a brain injury annually – that’s 52 people every single day. There are thousands of people still waiting for the kind of support that can make this transformation possible.
This Christmas, you can help deliver expert rehabilitation and family support, helping survivors rebuild independence, confidence, and hope when they need it most.
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Every year, thousands of people in Ireland will have strokes. Your donation makes sure families like mine aren’t left alone.
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Liam’s Story
After a serious cycling accident, Liam was left with memory loss, fatigue and confusion. For years, he struggled without the right support. Everything changed when he connected with Acquired Brain Injury Ireland. Through personalised rehabilitation, social connection, and a new passion for art, Liam began to rebuild his life and confidence. Now, he’s not only thriving, he’s helping others do the same.
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Tony’s Story
Tony was a dedicated father of five and a skilled mechanic who had spent over 30 years fixing cars and solving problems. The garage wasn’t just his workplace—it was a community where his skills were valued, and friendships were built.
Then, one ordinary workday in 2004, everything changed in an instant. A forklift tyre exploded, throwing Tony across the yard and leaving him with serious injuries—including a brain injury that would alter his life forever.
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Aisling’s Story
Aisling Morris was a vibrant, creative 18-year-old art student, with a love for photography, music, and friends.
When she was struck by a car, two steps from her family’s driveway, she was left with a severe brain injury, fighting for her life.
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