A stroke six years ago left Greg Wadden budgeting each moment of daily energy in ‘pennies’ of effort.

He and other local stroke survivors living by each cent of effort spent now have support in Cowichan’s new Stroke Recovery Association group.

Members, families and caregivers meet Fridays at Vancouver Island University and are seeking a paid co-ordinator.

The local branch of the B.C. association sees survivors share experiences, education and successes in the wake of their condition.

"Our association provides stroke people with physical and speech therapy, social and recreation programs, plus education to the public,” he said pointing to the penny example.

"We use the analogy of 10 pennies,” said former moving-company owner Wadden.

"Each penny is an energy module.

"A brain-injured person has 10 pennies. "They use two until 10 a.m. then a walk uses another two, so half are done by noon.

"For shopping, those 10 pennies are gone by 3 p.m. and you’re on overdraft.”

Folks without brain injury have 150 to 200 pennies a day "so you’re not limited as to what you do in a day,” said Wadden, 44.

His physical and mental limitations began at age 36 while running a Victoria household moving business.

"I was moving furniture into the back of my van and it was a very physical move with a big driveway and steep stairs.

"I had a headache and passed out in the back of my van. I’d never had a headache in my life, and that’s the kicker.”

He awoke 10 days later in Vancouver General Hospital.

"In those 10 days I had my aneurism fixed.”

That surgery saw a catheter inserted through his groin area. It probed his head to find a suspected hemorrhaging artery.

"They added titanium coils to patch the artery.”

Strokes stem from two conditions: an ischemic stroke with blocking of blood flow to the brain; or an hemorrhagic stroke involving burst blood vessels in the brain.

"Anyone can have stroke,” he said.

"You don’t have to be over age 50.”

Affable Wadden was a fit, non-smoker and teetotaler.

His disabilities prevent him from working formally, though he delivers the News Leader Pictorial.

"I had an aneurism and a really major brain injury. Now I have cognitive problems such as loss of sight so I don’t drive, plus fatigue problems.

"With a stroke head injury your audio and visual filters are gone.”

Last year, he met stroke survivor Patty Conrad during her coffee klatches for fellow survivors.

Complementing Cowichan’s new stroke- recovery group, Conrad stages her 2 p.m. coffee meetings last Wednesdays monthly in downtown’s Twisted Mug.

"When you can be around people who don’t judge,” said Wadden, "its emotional support for stroke survivors.”

Conrad had her stroke at 52.

She uses every coping tool, spanning acupuncture and somatics to swimming.

"You have to be resourceful; you have to want it,” she said. "People with stroke have to realize the options out there.”

Wadden wastes no time sulking about his condition.

"You don’t have to look very far to see people worse off. I get the most out of life now just because I can see what’s important,” he said.

"I have more empathy for people with disabilities as a result of my own stroke.”

Your ticket;

What: Stroke Recovery Association of the Cowichan Valley

When: Fridays, noon to 3 p.m.

Where: VIU, Cowichan campus, room 156. Call 250-748-6122.

Signs of a stroke

Five warning signs of stroke are weakness, trouble speaking, vision problems, headache, and dizziness.

Think FAST: Facial weakness (smiling, drooping mouth, eyes); Arm weakness (trouble raising both arms); Speech difficulty (can the person speak clearly and understand what’s said to them?); Time to act fast by calling 911.

Strokes are B.C.’s third–leading cause of death, spelling 2,300 deaths a year.