“When I came to, there were a lot of after-effects.”
Suzanne grew up in a violent home environment. She started drinking and taking drugs when she was still very young.
Suzanne grew up in a violent home environment. She started drinking and taking drugs when she was still very young. Her health gradually got worse and worse until, at only 22, she had a stroke. She was in a coma for three weeks.
Suzanne now has to live with multiple physical and motor after-effects of the stroke. She also suffers from ataxia, which affects the coordination of her fine-motor skills. Considering her condition as well as her income, preparing meals is always a challenge – and she has to follow a strict diet to control her symptoms; she does everything she can to live as normal a life as possible.
Thanks to a Centraide-supported agency, Suzanne is part of a collective kitchen that’s adapted for people with reduced mobility. She’s learned to eat better, and to cook dishes that work with her health requirements. She feels better, and she’s found a zest for life. She’s got several projects on the go, including writing a book about her life.
When you support Centraide, you help people like Suzanne access self-help services and networks that guarantee food security for all, and that help break through social isolation.