Hi, my name is Sarah as most of you will know! On the 31st of July I had a stroke whilst in Cornwall. Very very scary and spooky the fact my dogs woke me up at 3am. That's when I was experiencing chest pains which then within 20 minutes of phoning for an ambulance it developed to loss of use of my right arm, face drop and very slurred speech! (Never even been that drunk to speak like I was!!) luckily the ambulance arrived very quickly. I stayed in Royal Cornwall hospital for 8 days and that was my holiday!

Royal Cornwall hospital were absolutely incredible and I can't thank them enough!

Being away from home and my mum trying to find places to stay as we had only booked a certain time for our holiday was tough on me and my parents. I felt so bad that I had turned a holiday into visits back and fourth to see me in hospital! On day 6 I managed to convince my mum to bring my dogs to see me and that was exactly what I needed! We sat on the grass, snacking on crap with the sun out! That was my happy time!

i have full use of my arm now and back to normal on that front.

Since being discharged from hospital I have been in and out of hospital since, nearly twice a week for what would be now 3.5 months. Trying to figure out why I had a complete blockage in my right artery in my neck.

Im now being treated by Bristol Royal Infirmary who again are amazing! And I'm very grateful to have a very good rheumatologist doctor who understands me and my lifestyle.

On the 5th of November I was diagnosed with Takaysaus Arteritis which is an inflammation in the large blood vessels. This affects the use of my arms and legs due to that's where your large vessels transport blood around your body. This now hugely affects generally what I am now able to do in life. This is a very rare condition and only affects 2% a year in the UK so very unlucky!!

I get awful pain through my arms even brushing my teeth and hair isnt an easy task! But the positive is, riding horses is the only time I'm not in pain! Fantastic! But I then struggle with the little things like tacking up or mucking out due to the pain it causes in my arms. I don't walk far or run even if something is chasing me, so I get minimal pain through my pelvis and legs.

This is a life long condition and currently I am unable to work, as if I push on through the pain, even though I'm unsure I would be able to completely push through the pain because it's so bad, but it's a case of blood not getting through to my arms when in use as the condition narrows the artery walls. But this could have an affect on my muscles and damage my muscles... therefore I must listen to doctors for once in my life and not certain things.

The reason for this go fund me is to help me get through the next few months, Christmas time is hard enough for anyone but harder now I can not work and it's affecting normal life forget about Christmas! I have applied for help through Universal credit etc etc but typically this can take 3 months to process... makes me so angry that I have to use this as I have worked since a teenager this is not me at all, and I'm actually ashamed if I'm honest.... and more angry that there are people capable of working that don't because it's easier to get help!

This condition is life changing for me and it's something I need to come to terms with that life isnt going to be the same now. Hopefully things will improve with the medication I am now on but things may also get worse.

if anyone can help me get through this initial part in this process it would mean so much to me and might just keep a slightly normal life without going to work.. for now.

thank you for even reading my story. Any help is hugely hugely appreciated and means so so much to me!