Tag: Paralysis

37 blind in one eye, barely able

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On Boxing Day
a stroke
caused a blood clot on his brain.
He was left
paralysed down his left side, unable
to speak properly,
blind in one eye, barely able
to eat
or dress.
He used a mobility scooter.
Panic alarm
around his neck
in case he fell.
He was summoned
to a work capability assessment.
The stress
caused him to have
another stroke
days before the appointment,
but he was still determined to attend.
A month later, he received a letter
telling him he would lose his benefits.
His health went
rapidly
downhill.
Constant worry;
how would he survive?
Days after his benefits were stopped
he collapsed
in the street
near his home
and died.

[Daily Record, 10/12/2012, Atos benefits bullies killed my sick dad, says devastated Kieran, 13]

44 he may have been successful

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His former wife
gave evidence at the inquest.
They had been married for twelve years,
separating in 1995,
although they still saw each other
on a regular basis.
During the first half of their marriage
he suffered a brain haemorrhage,
leaving him paralysed down one side.
She had last seen him when he called to see her
at work.
He wanted help to go through his benefit papers.
He was worried he was going to be sent back to work.
His doctor made a statement,
said they had spoken on the phone
two weeks before he was due to attend
an appeal hearing.
He had been upset
because his benefits were being stopped
after an annual assessment.
His neighbour
was sat in his front room
watching the television
when he heard a loud bang.
He went outide and saw the man, his neighbour,
slumped in a chair.
He also saw there was a gun on the floor.
He ran inside and phoned 999.
‘Had he attended the appeal
he may have been successful’
the coroner said.
‘It is evident that the matter
was concerning him greatly.’

[Gazette and Herald, 17/04/2013, Benefits withdrawal led to man’s suicide]