Jennie Gow is a journalist and broadcaster who has been covering motorsport for over a decade, and is an expert on all things Formula 1. But fast cars are not the main focus of today’s episode; she joins Gabby to talk about an experience away from the track that she never envisaged happening to her at the midpoint. At the age of 45, Jennie suffered a stroke, and has been learning how to walk and talk again over the last two years. Jennie describes what it was like for her; why getting angry helped her find her voice again; and the impact its had on her relationship with her young daughter. She also speaks about her remarkable journey back to broadcasting and her first interview with Lewis Hamilton, why she cries at everything now, and has absolutely no idea what to expect from the menopause as a stroke survivor! Jennie’s story is one of survival, love, and determination, which is not to be missed.
Remember, the FAST acronym (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) is a test to quickly identify the three most common signs of stroke.
- Face weakness: Can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?
- Arm weakness: Can the person raise both arms fully and keep them there?
- Speech problems: Can the person speak clearly and understand what you say? Is their speech slurred?
- Time to call 999: if you see any one of these signs.
Jennie’s book How to Read F1: Everything you need to know about racing in the fast lane is available now.
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