The Press readers donate Christmas presents to children of stroke victim (From York Press)

The Press readers donate Christmas presents to children of stroke victim, Annoula Broadbent, 29

12:03pm Monday 27th December 2010 in Sorted By Richard Catton, richard.catton@thepress.co.uk

THE children of a York woman who suffered a mystery stroke at the age of 29 have enjoyed a happier Christmas, thanks to kind-hearted readers of The Press.

Readers donated presents and gift vouchers to the four young children of Annoula Broadbent, from Acomb, who was left in a wheelchair and unable to work, after suffering the stroke two months ago.

Her husband Mick, who lost his job earlier this year and is now a full-time carer to his wife and children, thanked the people of York.

“I’m normally a proud man but I have to set that aside,” he said.

“Without this help from people, Christmas could have been a lot worse than it has been. The kids won’t get the expensive presents they are used to, but they will get something.

“Thank you to everyone who has helped us.”

Mick said his wife, who worked as a carer for the disabled, was still finding it hard to come to terms with the effects of the stroke after it left her paralysed down her left side.

“She’s trying to keep her spirits but she does have a cry every now and then because she couldn’t give the children the Christmas she wants to,” said Mick.

The gifts came in following the story of Mrs Broadbent’s plight, in The Press earlier this month. They include a donation from the Osbaldwick branch of the NSPCC. However, other kind-hearted donators asked to remain anonymous.

Mrs Broadbent spent two months in York Hospital following the stroke, which happened shortly after she returned home from a family holiday.

Speaking earlier this month, she said: “We just don’t know if it’s going to happen again. When I feel any new pain I just think ‘what’s going to happen?’.”