A BASILDON dad has described being left “lonely, frustrated and exhausted” by the long-term impacts of a stroke.

Tony Osborne, 59, is used as a case study for a similar experience to Steve Smith, 39, of South Ockendon as both men suffer with aphasia.

Steve and his family will feature in a new Channel Four documentary, When The Words Went Away, tonight in which he lifts the lid on his battle with aphasia after surviving the initial stroke.

Vicky, Steve’s wife recalled her feelings as Steve began his recovery from the condition.

Echo: Recovery - Steve has been getting better from aphasiaRecovery - Steve has been getting better from aphasia (Image: Stroke Association)

She said: “I thought to myself: ‘how are we going to do this?’ Steve couldn’t string a sentence together, the kids couldn’t have a conversation with their dad, and my partner of 15 years is a different man.

“In that very moment, I pulled myself together and told myself I couldn’t give up… Steve is my rock, and I wasn’t going to include ‘can’t’ into our vocabulary.”

Steve had a cardiac arrest at home in South Ockendon with Vicky and his two young children Bailey, 8, and Molly, 16.

He then went on to have a stroke a few weeks later in December 2020.

Vicky woke up one morning to find Steve unable to speak or move his body. Steve woke up in hospital with severe aphasia and right-sided weakness.

At 4am of the day of  his stroke in January 2022, Tony had slid out of his bed unable to move or talk. Tony’s wife, Ann, tried to help him but knew something was seriously wrong.

As Ann called for an ambulance, their son, Jason, came into the room and immediately recognised Tony was having a stroke. At the time, Jason, 20, was studying Health Science at University.

Tony suffered another stroke last April.

Echo: Loved Ones - Tony's family has been very supportive in his recovery processLoved Ones - Tony's family has been very supportive in his recovery process (Image: Stroke Association)

He said: “When you have aphasia your ability to speak is not affected inside your head, but it takes you more time to process and speak out loud.

“It’s really hard living with aphasia, I’ve found it to be lonely, frustrating and exhausting.

“I still can’t pronounce words as well as I used to, and find it hard to think of words’ meanings – this can be so tiring on a daily basis.”

For more information visit stroke.org.uk/when-the-words-away-went.