Ten years on: A Royal Marines stroke recovery story
Mark Bowra founded BOWRA Foundation following a stroke that changed his life. He has Aphasia, which affects his ability to communicate, and these blogs are written using dictation, exactly as his thoughts come out.
It’s not easy. It never has been. But it’s not impossible either. It takes your best effort, every single day. The good days and the bad days. And it affects everyone around you. My kids, my wife, my dad, my brothers. They’ve all been part of this.
I served as a Royal Marines officer. When I left service I had a stroke. Two bleeds. Right side of the brain. I couldn’t talk. I couldn’t move one arm or one leg. That’s where it started.
I was sent to Headley Court for six months of rehabilitation. It’s a military rehab centre, now based at the DNRC (www.thednrc.org.uk). The people there, the work they do for brain injury, it’s unbelievable. Getting up every day and pushing through when your body won’t cooperate, that’s the army way. Hard, but doable.
While I was there, someone gave me a Knork. It’s a hybrid eating utensil (www.knorf.net) designed for people with limited hand use. Something that simple changed daily life. That’s the kind of thing you don’t think about until you need it.
I went to see Tom Balkin and read his book. I connected with ARNI (www.arni.uk.com) and Help for Heroes (www.helpofheroes.org.uk). Scotty and the gym sessions. Swimming. Physical activity has been central to my recovery.
Help for Heroes runs a VSI programme for very seriously injured veterans. Massage, gym sessions, carers. It’s been brilliant.
I also got support through Supporting Wounded Veterans (www.supportingwoundedveterans.com), including a mentor scheme and a structured business programme. I even got to go skiing two years ago. Starting to think about business again, getting a structure in place, has been a good thing.
Headway runs a breakfast club and group meetings for all types of brain injury (www.headway.org.uk). I go to the one at Wetherspoons, The Lord Wimborne. One hour. Good people. Worth it.
The Not Forgotten charity (www.thenotforgotten.org) supports veterans both in and out of service.
And then there’s what came out of all this. I set up BOWRA Foundation with Stu Hitchman and Jim Searight. A foundation built out of everything I’ve been through.
Determination is the key. Ten years in, it’s coming. It is coming.
