Edinburgh dad who almost lost life after stroke shares inspiring recovery journey
The wife of an Edinburgh stroke victim has shared her husband's inspiring recovery journey after he was left with a loss of feeling down his right side.
Duncan Kirkpatrick, 50, suffered a hemorrhagic stroke on December 17 2023, with the event leaving him with life changing injuries.
The former painter and decorator, played golf five to six times a week prior to the stroke, but he was left with close to no feeling in his right arm or leg.
He also developed foot drop, a common post-stroke condition that affects walking. Duncan now wears a custom-designed ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) to reduce the risk of tripping or falling.
His wife, Stacey, a self-employed luxury balloon stylist who was running Elevated Balloons & Events by Stacey, has paused much of her business to support her husband in his recover.
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She's been documenting his progress on TikTok (@roadtorecovery32) to connect with other stroke survivors and their families.
'No one chooses this to happen to them, and you find yourself being part of a unique group,' she explains. 'A stroke doesn't just affect the individual but the wider family, and we wouldn't be where we are now without the invaluable support of my mum, her partner, and our wider network.'
Duncan is making massive steps in his recovery, with the family saying a large part of him making strides has been keeping physically active at Edinburgh Leisure gyms, despite the ex-tradesman believing "the gym wasn't for him."
He now attends the gym six times a week at Ainslie Park, and credits physical activity can transform rehabilitation, wit
'His ultimate aim is to get back to playing golf,' says his wife of 15 years, who has dedicated herself to supporting Duncan's recovery journey. 'But for now, he's concentrating on the simple things we all take for granted, like walking and restoring movement in his right arm and hand.'
The Kirkpatricks' journey with Edinburgh Leisure began in February 2024 when they visited Ainslie Park Leisure Centre to use the pool. With finances tight following an unexpected eviction from their rented home, Duncan has benefited from Edinburgh Leisure's Get Active Card – a membership offering people on low incomes off-peak access to facilities for just £10 monthly without joining fees.
'Duncan was determined to walk into the pool,' Stacey recalls. 'Fortunately, the design at Ainslie Park allowed him to do just that.' With assistance from Edinburgh Leisure staff who provided pool noodles for support, water-based exercise helped build Duncan's confidence and strength.
The couple supplements his Edinburgh Leisure sessions with weekly classes at the NHS Stroke Centre at Longstone, Chinese acupuncture, and their own E-Stim machine, which uses low-voltage electrical currents to stimulate nerves and muscles. They've even tried unconventional approaches such as applying stinging nettles to Duncan's affected calf muscle – a technique Stacey discovered through a Canadian stroke survivor on TikTok.
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'It's the little wins that keep us going,' adds Stacey. 'Only the other day, Duncan called out to show me how he was able to pick up the TV remote control with ease for the first time.'
While Duncan's planned November golfing trip to the USA with friends from Silverknowes Golf Club remains on hold, the couple recently celebrated a significant milestone with his first visit to the driving range at the Braids – a major victory on his road to recovery.
'Duncan's story exemplifies the message we're emphasising about the critical role physical activity plays in recovery,' said Ricky Singh, gym instructor at Edinburgh Leisure's Ainslie Park Leisure Centre. 'His determination shows what's possible when stroke survivors have access to appropriate facilities and support.'
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