Valentine Munonyedi was just 47 when he experienced a major stroke in 2024. The father of three young girls, he knew he had to work hard at his recovery for their sake as well as his own… which is where Bristol After Stroke came in. 

Tell me about your stroke, Valentine

My stroke was a very horrible experience… it was like a light bulb being switched off and back on again. 

In the blink of an eye my entire world turned upside down. I woke up in hospital and I couldn't see properly. I couldn't lift my body. I was wearing diapers and being fed through the nose. 

I remember thinking: could this be the end?

But I knew this couldn’t be the end. I have two young children and they look up to me. I’m their hero. 

If I don’t get up it’s going to affect the trajectory of their lives forever. My job is to take care of those kids.

How did the groups help you?

The programmes, activities and opportunities organised by Bristol After Stroke have been incredibly inspiring. 

Going to the groups made a very big difference. I was staring at the walls, sleeping, waking up, taking my medications. I thought I only had a short time to live…. And that any recovery would limited after the first six months.

But I met people at the groups who had had their strokes five, 10, 20 years later and who were still improving their fitness and strength five, 10, 20 years later. The healing process was still going on. That it takes a while and you have to be patient with your body and yourself.

I thought: if they could keep on improving, so could I.

Everyone understands you in the groups and what you’re going through. You don’t have to apologise for anything. 

The groups were the best thing that happened to me after sliced bread.

You also had counselling. How did that help you?

Counselling made the biggest difference of all. It came at the right time because the mental challenges are the biggest of all. People don’t understand the problems you are going through.  I was almost going down. 

My counsellor was absolutely terrific — she really knows her onions! The support, understanding and space she gave me came at a time when I genuinely needed it, and it made a significant difference to my mental and emotional wellbeing.

It helped me to reason, to think, to become a better person. I wouldn't have really been here now, you know, talking the way I am, if that counselling hadn't taken place.

And you’ve been attending our return-to-work sessions…

It’s important for me to try and get back to work, and Bristol After Stroke are also helping me to do that... on the course we can share our thoughts and navigate our concerns with the help of professionals.

Not forgetting you went on the charity walk last year!

I heard about the charity walk and I was excited!

I took a walk every evening to train and signed up for one mile. That was my target. 

Luckily on the day a volunteer offered to walk with me. Peter was so interesting and he kept talking and encouraging me… after a mile I just kept going and, although I was exhausted at the end, I finished three miles.

That might sound like a small thing to some people, but for me, as someone recovering from a stroke, it was a huge personal achievement.

It reminded me that recovery isn't always about the enormous milestones; sometimes it is about having someone believe in you enough to help you believe in yourself.

Any final thoughts?

Bristol After Stroke creates opportunities for people to connect, to encourage one another and discover possibilities that they may not have believed were there.

I often think about how far I have come since my stroke and the many people and organisations that have played a part in that journey. Bristol After Stroke is unquestionably one of them.

If you'd like to see and hear Valentine's story, here he is talking to us last year.