A 16-YEAR-OLD boy whose life was devastated by a stroke six months ago is trying to raise awareness about how the illness can affect young people.

Bradley Cory, of Downham Way, has returned home after spending the last six months in hospital and at the Children’s Trust rehabilitation centre in Tadworth, Surrey.

Two days before Bradley was due to start sixth form, on September 5 last year, he started experiencing weakness and pins and needles in his left arm.

Knowing something was wrong, he called the ambulance, who took him to King’s College Hospital where he was diagnosed with stroke.

He said: “I remember getting carried down stairs and being in the ambulance but then my memory fades and picks up three weeks later. I remember being in the hospital wondering why am I here?

“I was told it was a stroke, it was very shocking, very surreal.

“It still shocks me even though I’ve got used to it.

“It can happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime. I doesn’t give you a warning, it just happens. That’s scary.”

Though initially paralysed and unable to use his left side, Bradley can now walk with a splint and is working on getting back full use of his hand.

He said: “I think I’ve made huge progress. It’s still frustrating though.

“The most difficult part is using my hands because half my body is fine and half is saying this is really really hard.

“I’ll be trying to brush my teeth with my left hand and I can’t grab the brush properly.”

Now Bradley has returned home his physiotherapy is being cut to two sessions a week, but his mum Julie is determined to raise the £55,000 needed so he can still have daily sessions.

She said: “I don’t know if he’s going to make a full recovery but I have to have hope and try everything.

“There’s a window of opportunity, outside of the window it takes so much longer.

“We can’t mess around. We need to do everything we can now so we don’t need to worry about him later on.

“He’s a good kid, he doesn’t drink or smoke or do anything he shouldn’t. It’s so unfair.”

Visit bradleysstrokestory.co.uk to find out more.