PAULINE Ward’s life changed forever one afternoon in 2015.

Now aged 68, the Glazebury resident ran her own cleaning business and decided to have a bath after a morning of hard work.

It was at that moment that she had a devastating stroke and was later found by partner Paul Jennings and rushed to hospital.

Pauline said: “I was working in the morning and I decided I would go for a nice bath - I got in the bath, and that was it.

“I couldn’t get out of the bath, but luckily Paul came home.

“Apparently I nearly died.”

Pauline has shared the story of her long recovery to mark World Stroke Day, which takes place on Monday, October 29.

After spending a number of months in hospital, she then faced the task of learning to walk and talk again.

For the past two years, she had been part of a support group run by the Stroke Association - meeting weekly at the Centre for Independent Living in Sankey Bridges, and helping people who have suffered strokes to regain communication skills.

Pauline added: “I couldn’t do anything but I kept trying and now I can.

“It takes time but look at me now.

“I’ve come a long way.

“There is a lot that I can’t do anymore, I understand that, but I’ve got to do other things instead.

“I want to learn more - you’ve got to, otherwise I might as well go now and I don’t want to.”

On World Stroke Day, Stroke Association staff and nurses from Warrington Hospital’s stroke ward will be carrying out free blood pressure checks in the atrium of the hospital from 10am to 2pm.

Lorraine Hale, support coordinator at the Stroke Association, said: “Pauline’s progress has been unbelievable - she’s an inspiration.

“She was able to communicate very little and she wasn’t even able to sit up to start with.

“Despite those challenges, she was always willing to try.

“We always celebrate everybody’s successes and achievements - whether that’s taking a step or walking without a stick, we celebrate every little victory together.

“There is light at the end of the tunnel.”