Life After My Mothers Stroke: A Teenage Take on How to Cope

Tashi Hansen du Toit was 15 years old when her mother, Karen, suffered a severe haemorrhagic stroke which left her with multiple physical and cognitive impairments. This beautifully written and poignant account tells Tashis story from the first moments after her mothers stroke, following her and her family through the experience of her mothers hospitalisation and rehabilitation. Tashi offers a rare glimpse into the impact of her mothers stroke on her family and on her life as a teenager as she juggles the stresses and demands of family, school, and friends alongside coping with her mothers brain injury. As she describes how she is learning to cope with her unresolved grief three years on, she provides hope, perspective, and insight on how to work towards growth and acceptance despite the catastrophe of a parents stroke.

Presenting the rarely heard adolescent perspective on parental brain injury, Tashis moving story also features Karens account as she comes to terms with her experience. This authentic book offers great support to others, particularly teenagers, who may be going through a similar experience. It is also valuable reading for those working in brain injury services and the education system, and for any professional or student involved in neurorehabilitation or supporting families of parents with brain injury.