Nottingham student from Hertfordshire recalls the night he had 7 strokes
The now 30 year old tells us his dream of being a singer wasn't destroyed when he could no longer walk or talk though
We're hearing how singing for a stroke survivor can improve their recovery, as a former University of Nottingham student shares his experience.
Ryan Finan from Hertfordshire was 19 years old and studying Business Management and Marketing in Nottingham, when he suffered 7 strokes in one night.
He was described as the energy in every room, the heartbeat of every party, known for his outgoing spirit, his love for music, and the positive energy he radiated everywhere he went. Life was exciting, limitless, full of dreams waiting to be lived. Until that night changed everything.
Ryan, now 30 years old and living in London, says the night he had his stroke will ‘haunt him forever’. The damage was devastating, leaving him unable to walk, unable to talk, his left side completely paralysed. His face had dropped, his speech was slurred, and his body no longer did what he told it to.
The doctors told him, bluntly: it was a miracle he was still alive. Had he not found the strength to climb downstairs that night, had his housemate not rushed him to hospital, Ryan wouldn’t have made it. Every second had counted.
Ryan said:
“What started as a simple headache quickly spiralled into something far more sinister. After feeling unwell at my friend's house, I went home to sleep it off. But in the early hours, I woke to find my body violently shaking.
"Cold, confused, and terrified, I struggled to stand.
"With every step down the stairs, my balance faltered. My body wasn’t working, and I just couldn’t work out why.”
Desperate for help, Ryan stumbled into his housemate’s room, crashing into the wardrobe. Within minutes, Ryan was being carried to a car and rushed to hospital, unable to walk, unable to even swallow water without choking.
At hospital, doctors told Ryan he had had multiple strokes - seven in total – and that he was minutes from death.
Ryan said:
“Doctors explained I’d had an undiagnosed patent foramen ovale, also known as PFO. This was a hole in my heart which caused blood to travel to my brain and cause a block. This is when the doctor explained that without the instinct to fight through the terror that night, without the strength to wake someone up in my house - I would not have survived. The doctors were clear: my actions that night, and also my housemates, saved my life."
Ryan spent a month in hospital before returning to his family home in Hertfordshire.
“I’ve always loved music, and amongst the many thoughts rushing through my mind in hospital the one that kept coming back was questioning if I’d ever be able to sing again. After the stroke, coming back home, it continued to be a big fear of mine. I thought my music and signing days were totally over. The stroke had knocked me and won. This fear stayed with me for two long years.”
In the meantime, Ryan threw himself into helping others. He took a job with the National Citizen Service, working with young people, many of whom loved performing arts and music just like he did.
“One day, at the end of a music workshop, the students asked me to sing. I didn’t think I could do it but felt the pressure to give it a go. For the first time since my stroke, I opened my mouth and sang. The room was silent. My voice filled the space. I could sing! The students told him they would buy my music if I made it – and in that moment, my belief in myself reignited.”
In the years that followed, Ryan underwent surgery to close the hole in his heart. He continued to rebuild his life, dream by dream, step by step. He still has difficult days.
“I saw death and came back determined to live louder than ever. Music remains my dream, my calling. And now, more than ever, I want to make an impact – to show others that even when life is turned upside down, even when you think you've lost everything, you can still find your way back to your dreams.
“Because what doesn’t kill you, truly, makes you stronger.”
Well the Stroke Association say that more than a third of stroke survivors are able to sing better than speak soon after their stroke.
The charity surveyed 1,000 stroke survivors to mark Stroke Awareness Month in May and found that a third of survivors lost the ability to speak after their stroke, while over a third could sing better than they could speak in the days, weeks and months following their stroke. In fact, a quarter of people could sing or hum before they could talk at all.
In the UK, 100,000 people have strokes each year and a third of stroke survivors have aphasia, a language and communication disability, which leaves people struggling to speak, read, write or understand language.
Research has shown that singing after stroke can enhance communication and spoken language for people with aphasia.
The Stroke Association’s survey found that over half of stroke survivors said that singing, listening to music or playing an instrument had a positive impact on their stroke recovery, with two in five saying music had a massive impact on their recovery.
Practically, almost two thirds of stroke survivors said that music helped to improve their communication skills after their stroke, while over half said music helped their memory, and the same number said it improved their sense of hearing.
From an emotional perspective, almost half of stroke survivors who said that singing helped their recovery, said that singing along to music after their stroke helped them to relax, while over a third said singing gave them hope as they could sing better than they could speak, and two in five said it made them feel positive again.
The charity also surveyed 2,000 members of the general public and found that the UK population is unaware of the significant communication issues stroke survivors can face, with more than a quarter unaware that communication difficulties are a common effect of stroke. Beyond communication issues, people with aphasia often report that their wellbeing is negatively affected, including struggling with reduced confidence and social isolation.
- Three in five stroke survivors surveyed (59%) experienced anxiety
- Over half of survivors (56%) experienced low mood
- Over half of survivors (52%) had reduced confidence
- Two in five (40%) said they felt socially isolated after their stroke
Professor Mark Tarrant, the researcher who led the study at the University of Exeter, said:
“Singing-based rehabilitation may have positive effects on both social confidence and wellbeing, providing social and emotional support for people with aphasia and their loved ones.”
Juliet Bouverie OBE, CEO of the Stroke Association, said:
“There are now over 1.4 million stroke survivors in the UK, and this number is growing. The impact of a stroke can be completely life-altering. We believe everyone deserves to live the best life they can after stroke but to do this, we need your support.
“Singing can be a powerful tool in stroke recovery for those who experience communication difficulties.
"Because music and singing are processed in a different part of the brain to spoken language, some people with communication problems find that they can sing easily, even though speaking is difficult.
“Now we need singers to show their support to stroke survivors and their families. If you’re part of a choir or singing group, you could dedicate a song to stroke survivors and donate some of the proceeds. Children at school could vote for a song to prepare and come together to sing at a special assembly for Stroke Awareness Month. You could even hold a ‘sponsored sing’ and sing 31 songs in a row – one for every day in May to highlight Stroke Awareness Month. By taking part in Sing4Stroke, you’ll help make a lasting difference to stroke survivors and their families.”
Every day in May, 240 people will wake up to the catastrophic impact of a stroke. It can leave survivors unable to move, see, speak, or even swallow. With strength, determination and the right support, recovery is possible.
The Stroke Association is the only charity in the UK providing lifelong support for all stroke survivors and their families. The charity provides tailored support to tens of thousands of stroke survivors each year, funds vital stroke research, and campaigns to secure the best care and support for everyone affected by stroke.
By raising your voice for stroke survivors this May, you can help stroke survivors and their loved ones to find strength through support. Sign up to Sing4Stroke at https://www.stroke.org.uk/singing