A MUM told how a celebratory birthday meal ended with her spending three weeks in hospital after she suffered a crippling stroke.

Leeann Armstrong was then stuck with another just nine months later, both of which combined to destroy her mobility and vision.

But the brave 47-year-old is now stepping up for a charity challenge alongside her son in a bid to raise funds for charity and awareness around the condition that turned her life on its head.

Leeann is teaming up with her ten-year-old Mason to take part in the Kiltwalk’s Wee Wander in Balloch on April 30 to raise funds for Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland and shine a light on the struggle sufferers face.

The two strokes have left her with limited movement on her left side and impacted her vision to the extent she has been given a white stick to help her get around.

Leeann told the News: “I did the Kiltwalk with my husband Thomas back in 2018 and at the time I couldn’t have imagined what was going to happen to me.

"Mason has been so good with me in my recovery and he wants to be part of the fundraising, so I'm delighted to have him by my side."

There was no hint of what lay ahead when Leeann and Thomas went out for a meal to celebrate her birthday in November 2019.

Leeann stumbled and fell upon leaving the restaurant, then began to feel increasingly unwell over the next hour.

Unable to walk properly, she leaned on Thomas to get home and eventually had to crawl upstairs to bed. It would be another 36 hours before she called NHS24 and was told to go directly to A&E.

A scan confirmed the shock news that she had had a stroke and she spent the next three weeks in Crosshouse Hospital.

She said: “I had some physio in hospital, but there were no female spaces available at the stroke rehabilitation ward, and I just wanted to get home.

"The doctors weren’t happy, but eventually they let me go.

“I did get some treatment over the next couple of months, but that all stopped when Covid-19 hit. Then I started having trouble with my vision in August 2020, and a scan showed that I’d had a second stroke.

WI have a walking stick to use now outside, but I can get around the house myself."

Despite her physical limitations, Leeann is determined to complete the 3.2 mile Wee Wander.

To prepare she has bought a walking machine and is using that to help her improve her balance and fitness.

Leeann said: “The machine has been great for me, although Mason uses it more!

"We’re hoping for lots of cheers from family and friends to get a big total and good weather on the day.

"Mason has been a great source of support - from doing the housework and getting things for me - he has really kept me going. I am so pleased to be doing the walk with him, it will be a very special day.

"My husband Thomas has been a rock since this happened. From helping me up and downstairs, getting me dressed or in and out of the bath, just simply things I never imagined I would struggle with.

"My family and friends have been with me every step of the way."

The family live in Simson Avenue in West Kilbride, and Mason is currently in Primary 6 at the village school.

Leanne will be a familiar face to customers of The Fish Works in Largs, but has been unable to return to her job there since her illness.

You can help Leeann and Mason raise much-needed funds for CHSS by donating at justgiving.com/fundraising/leeann-mason-armstrong

Louise Macleod, fundraiser at Heart & Stroke Scotland, said: “We are so grateful to Leanne and Mason for undertaking this challenge to raise awareness and money to support other people across Scotland living with chest, heart and stroke conditions."

Thomas will also be taking part in the full Kiltwalk event on behalf of Poppy Scotland.