Help Alex to talk again

We are hoping to raise money for our son, Alex Chalmers, who had a catastrophic stroke at the age of 36, in March last year.

It was completely out of the blue. He was a fit and healthy young man, a non smoker, non drinker and a senior first officer pilot for EasyJet. A rupture in the left carotid artery in his neck cause a blood clot in the brain leading to right side paralysis, loss of speech and the inability to read or write (apraxia and aphasia). An emergency craniotomy, which saved his life, removed part of his skull, hence the protective helmet. As a consequence he has lost his career and is now reliant on benefits. The effect on family life, his wife and two young songs aged 7 and 5, has been devastating.

After four and a half months receiving great care from the Salford Royal Critical Care Unit and Stepping Hill Hospital E1 rehabilitation ward, Alex was discharged with limited walking, paralysis of the right arm and still no speech. He relied on community NHS services. Unfortunately he only receives two separate hours a week, at best, of therapies at home. Mobility is an issue, he cannot use his right arm and the inability to communicate through speech, reading and writing is very upsetting and frustrating for him, affecting his mental health.

The most recent research from the University College London has proved that intensive speech therapy, boot camp style, involving 96 hours over 4-6 weeks has a profound effect on the ability to speak. Sadly, the NHS cannot provide this. The Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program, ICAP, is offered by Linguistic Resolutions, currently the only private clinic in the UK to do so. The program is run by specialist neuro speech and language therapists. It comes with a massive price tag of £15,000. This is the program we aspire to for our son. However, any money raised could go to other therapeutic options.

With your help, we hope to vastly improve Alex's independence, confidence, wellbeing and quality of life.

Thank you so much