A YOUNG woman who suffered a devastating stroke ten years ago celebrated her remarkable recovery by getting a taste of working life.

Elise Bresnihan spent four months in intensive care and overcame years of setbacks to become a remarkable 22-yearold who was invited to shadow a member of staff at Waitrose, in Eastern Avenue, Southend.

Elise was among 100 young people with physical and learning disabilities taking part in Inspiring Disabled Young People, an initiative to help such people into work and tackle misconceptions about hiring disabled employees.

Elise’s mum, Helen, described her daughter's recovery a “miracle’’.

On going to work, Elise said: “It was great. I loved it and had a wonderful time. I went with my friend, Emma, and we got to make a pizz,a which they gave us to take home.

“It was a really good experience.”

Helen, of Harewood Avenue, Rochford, said it was remarkable to see her daughter at work. She recalled the day of the stroke, saying: “One minute, Elise was fine, the next she was in a severe condition.

“They said she’d never walk, talk or have any quality of life.

Just before they were about to certify her brain- dead, she coughed. From then on, she couldn’t swallow, talk, or walk, but after five months she finally said ‘mum’ and ‘dad’.

“She kept on battling and when I look at her now I just think ‘wow, it’s a miracle’.

“She’s worked so hard and despite having paralysis to her right side, a speech impediment and partial vision she is volunteering with Community Service Volunteers and the Phab shop, in Rayleigh, has a social life and is getting on with her life.”

The work scheme is organised by Community Service Volunteers and funded by the Department for Work and Pension.

Helen added: “Elise would love a paid job. Volunteering makes her feel good and she loves socialising and being in customer-facing roles. When she was asked her if she’d like to be part of this new initiative, she was so excited and knew straight away she wanted to work in Waitrose.

“It’s our local store and the staff have always been very welcoming and joined in with the community fundraising effort that people were kind enough to set up after her stroke.

“I think Elise is going to be taking part in a demonstration stall and she can’t wait.

“For Elise, the problem is finding the right job that can accommodate her needs.

Being active and part of her community makes her feel great and raises her morale.

She’d love a part-time job.

“Unfortunately, it’s often about employers’ perceptions of disabled people.

“They see them as extra hassle or unable to do a job, when, as long as it’s the right role, with some additional support, they can be great employees and they, like Elise, have a lot to offer.”

 

ELIZE Bresnihan suffered a life-threatening stroke at the age of 12.

Her devastated parents believed she would die, but she fought back against the odds and came out of a coma to amaze her doctors.

Initially she was unable to breath without a ventilator, or speak, and was paralysed down her right side.

Her long road to recovery was filled with pitfalls as she learned to cope with the sideeffects of the stroke, including a loss of peripheral vision in her right eye, partial deafness, epilepsy and having to learn to walk again.

Her determination saw her finally return to Greensward College, Hockley.

Not content with that, she even climbed Sugar Loaf Mountain, one of the Black Hills in Monmouthshire, South Wales, with the help of a truck for disabled climbers.

She also became a champion fundraiser, helping raise cash for a stroke ward at Southend Hospital.

In 2007, she picked up a Children and Young People’s Courage award for making such fantastic progress in her rehabilitation.

Mum Helen said: “She still suffers from epilepsy and some health issues, but she has doen amazingly well, considering.

“I never expected her to walk or talk again. I’m very proud of her.”