Roger Mckee shares his stroke recovery story

In early 2024, Roger McKee suffered from a life-changing stroke. After months of recovery, Roger began working with Cedars' Workable programme.  

"It was the 20th January 2024 and we were about to leave to do our weekly shop when all a sudden I felt very strange. I told my wife I had double vision in my right eye but it left as quickly as it had happened. I said I was fine, but it hit again, and this time would not go away. Next thing I remember was being in my wife’s car and her saying we were going to the hospital, and that I wasn’t well. Unknown to me, I was taking a Stroke. This happened on the Saturday morning around 8.10 am and I have no recollection of anything from that moment in the car until the following Tuesday morning. I woke up with a nurse beside me asking did I know where I was. I honestly didn’t have a clue and was only concerned as to where my wife Marie was. When the nurse explained that I had taken a Stroke, I could not believe what I was hearing. I was in hospital until the Thursday evening before being discharged.

The next 3 months were just a blur to me and was told all I wanted to do was sleep. I was on crutches and had many visits from the fantastic Stroke Team. They helped me so much, with both physio and cognitive issues. I was off work for a year and in that time, I managed to replace the crutches with a walking stick, which I will probably have for the rest of my life. I have a weakness on the left side and still struggle with walking and bending. The fatigue with a Stoke is crazy and you are always totally shattered 24/7. I have had short term memory loss from day 1 and need to write everything down or I will forget what I am doing. I also have stickers all over the house to help me know where things go and I was not allowed to drive for 6 months but never forgot how to do this. The Stoke Team introduced me to the Cedar Foundation and the Workable Program.

Cedar have played a massive part in helping me to get back to work and are still doing so. My support worker from Cedar is Lauren Fox, and she has been fantastic. Lauren sorted everything to do with work, from when I would be ready to start back, my phased return, working from home to what my needs are when working from home and when I go into the college. Without Lauren’s help and support, I honestly don’t think I would have ever made it back to work at all. I meet with Lauren once a month to check on my progress which is slow but steady. Lauren is also in regular contact with the college and speaks on my behalf if I find anything challenging or awkward. A great example is that Lauren got me a quiet room to use in each campus when I go into SERC as I still can’t cope with loud noise or large groups of people in one room. Personally, I can’t thank Lauren enough for everything she has helped me to overcome. The Workable Program is working for me and with the ongoing support of Cedar and Lauren, not only am I back into the workplace I’m still managing to stay there".

As part of a partnership of disability organisations, called Supported Employment Solutions (SES), we deliver Workable (NI) which is designed to respond to individual needs and to allow for different types of employment and support. 

Visit www.sesni.org.uk for more information about our partnerships. 

Workable (NI) is available across Northern Ireland and is designed to help you in employment and can help if you are at risk of losing your job as a result of disability or a health condition. Workable (NI) is available to you if you're aged over 16 with a disability or other health conditions and you want to progress into or stay in employment. 

How do I get involved? 

To access the Workable (NI) programme you can contact us directly yourself or get in touch via your Jobs and Benefits office, Social Worker, Health Care Professional, Training Provider, Family or Carer.